This year we saw the first Congress of Indonesian Diaspora held in the US, which sparks excitement on how Indonesian diaspora can have a role in a variant of Indonesia’s soft power diplomacy. As President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono expressed in his remarks at the congress, he wishes Indonesian diaspora to be their best and “…contribute for the future of our nation”. A positive wish that we appreciate but let’s not forget the etymology of the word “diaspora” which also implies that people from one country are dispersed to others as a form of exile, or to find better life as they can’t find one in their motherland.
According to foreign ministry data currently there are around 5.8 million Indonesian diaspora. However Indonesia’s current diaspora is a combination of this country’s history as a former subject of colonization, racial oppression, and lack of appreciation to technical skills and knowledge, as well as the lack of opportunities to develop and grow.
Meaning Indonesian diaspora is also a beacon that reminds us something is still wrong with our country, since there are still plenty Indonesians who prefer to migrate abroad and still reluctant to return to their motherland. We know the history of Javanese being brought to Suriname by the Dutch at the end of 1800 to work on plantations. We still remember how the 1998 riots resulted in an exodus of Indonesian Chinese descendants fearing for their safety. Or the 50 thousand Indonesian students abroad who choose to leave Indonesia to get what they believe as better education and opportunities for a better salary working abroad.
However we should not negate the importance of the soft power diplomacy effect Indonesian diaspora could bring to the table, especially with the increasing profile of Indonesia in the world stage. There are at least three strategic functions of Indonesia diaspora in soft power diplomacy. First, introducing the best of Indonesian culture to various parts of the world. As a graduate of Leeds University Business School in the UK, I had the proud experience when my classmates admire the Indonesian Batik I wore on graduation. Imagine if many Indonesian students abroad or diplomats wore Batik frequently. The international exposure of Indonesian Batik could increase without us having to hold expensive international exhibitions.
Second, applying ideas originated from Indonesia to solve various international problems. Just like when Bung Karno ideas inspired the Non-Aligned Movement and made an impact on other third world countries independence at that time. Another example is the Sosrobahu construction technique designed by Tjokorda Raka Sukawati who already gained international recognition and being used by engineers in other countries to build flyovers without disrupting traffic.
Third, absorb ideas from other countries that can then be adjusted and applied in Indonesia. This actually has already been done since before our independence, when Indonesian students abroad at that time learn theories originated from other countries, adjusted those theories to then come up with their own. The knowledge they gained abroad enabled them to develop original Indonesian ideas, which did their part in the fight for independence and early years of system building in this country.
We ourselves have been at the end of those three functions. Take a look at the Korean and Japanese culture crazes that gain loyal followers from our youth. We can also see how our experts and academics have been recommending international theories to be applied in Indonesia. There are also examples of other countries that learned from us in the past but then excel in its own way, such as Malaysia who learned from us in various sectors back in the days such as sports and oil. Currently perhaps they have succeeded in surpassing us.
Now is the time to turn the table around but we need to do it without significantly increasing the number of Indonesian diaspora. The government needs to protect its people as part of its constitutional duties so that its people won’t leave their motherland. Indonesians should feel safe and comfortable living in their own motherland. They should experience no ethnic or racial oppressions, have access to good quality education without needing to go abroad, and receive appreciation as well as support for their capabilities or skills. When the Indonesian government can provide its people with these, the effectiveness of our soft power diplomacy will not have to depend on the number of Indonesian diaspora.
So Indonesia needs to migrate ideas but not necessarily its people. Look at the Korean culture craze here. It’s gaining popular support but doesn’t necessarily relate to the number of Korean people living in Indonesia.
There are three ways we can achieve this. First, government needs to facilitate the improvement of our cultural products and development of ideas. They need to be in their highest quality if we want to win the minds and hearts of people in other countries. Look at our movie and music industries. Have the government done enough to provide them with an environment where they can flourish? The same question applies to our higher education institutions where ideas usually come from. Our researchers tend to go abroad as other countries provide them the facilities and incentives to develop their ideas.
Second, maximize the use of communication technology. US culture penetrates the Indonesians’ minds and hearts through TV, theaters and Internet that plays US music, Hollywood movies and lifestyle shows. In a high-tech era, Indonesia can, and needs to, use communication technology such as TV and Internet to show the world our culture, with the hope of winning the minds and hearts of people from other countries.
Third, government needs to provide both physical and psychological incentives to get Indonesian diaspora to come back to their motherland. This means providing better living condition, protection from ethnic and racial oppressions, opportunities for good paying work, fair distribution of prosperity, and plenty more.
By focusing on the migration of our ideas and not our people, Indonesia can have a strong standing in the world but at the same time preventing a brain drain crisis that will hurt us in the long run. We can then be a proud nation that other nations will admire and aspire to become.
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