INDONESIA’S CULTURAL DIPLOMACY IN EAST TIMOR THROUGH EDUCATION, CULTURE, AND TOURISM (2014-2019)

Abstract

Indonesia is a country in Southeast Asian region that consists of thousands of islands that are physically separated from one another, with people on each island developing their respective cultures, resulting in Indonesia has a diversity of culture and natural beauty. Promoting Indonesia's identity as an archipelagic country to the international community has become a foreign policy priority under President Joko Widodo administration in 2014-2019, since Indonesia is aware of the cultural diversity and natural beauty it can show to the world. East Timor is one of the countries where Indonesia's culture and natural beauty assets are being promoted. To achieve Indonesia national interest in East Timor which was centered through President Joko Widodo’s foreign policy, the government of Indonesian use the practice of cultural diplomacy. In regards to this, this research uses several theories in International Relations study, namely soft power, cultural diplomacy, and foreign policy. This study discovered that Indonesian cultural diplomacy in East Timor was carried out during the Joko Widodo – Jusuf Kalla administration (2014-2019) through education, culture, and tourism, which were structured into three primary programs: educational, cultural, and tourism. Furthermore, cultural diplomacy is utilized to achieve Indonesia's national interest in East Timor, particularly promoting Indonesia as an archipelagic country as well as developing and strengthening bilateral relations with East Timor.