Description
Traditional practices of diplomacy always underline the importance of face-to-face meetings. Diplomats and state’s officials are familiar with personal communication, whether it is formal or informal, in diplomatic practices. However, the rise of globalisation has raised the importance of information and communication technologies, and has coined the term digital diplomacy. Everyone has connected through information communication technologies nowadays, such as with social media, including diplomats and Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFAs). This phenomenon has spurred expectations of diplomacy’s inclusiveness, the idea of digital diplomatic practices and also two-ways communication in diplomacy. In 2020, digital diplomacy seems to be more important than ever before, especially when it seems to emerge as the best possible solution to deal with the challenges pose by the covid-19 pandemic. The questions are: does the impression is true in reality? Does digital diplomacy really equip diplomats to solve a sudden shock that is happened internationally? And what can we learn from the conduct of digital diplomacy in 2020? Using the case study of Indonesia’s digital diplomacy in 2020 and based on the understanding of digital diplomacy offered by Bjola and Holmes, this paper argues that digital diplomacy has its prospects to be used as a strategy to face global challenges but it also has limits that may hinder the use of digital diplomacy in the future. The findings of this paper suggest that Indonesian MOFA and Missions in Germany has implemented digital diplomacy during the pandemic and they focus more on citizen protection issues. Besides that, Indonesian MOFA and Missions in Germany also conduct digital diplomacy to support Indonesia’s economic diplomacy, national and sovereignty diplomacy, Indonesia’s role in international forum as well as support to international solidarity. Nonetheless, the conduct of digital diplomacy is not yet seen as a strategy and influenced mainly by the initiative from diplomats. This paper is a qualitative study and focuses on the digital activity of the Indonesian MOFA and the Indonesia Missions in Germany in conducting diplomacy in 2020, especially as a respond to the Covid-19 pandemic. The paper will be supported with primary data which is based on interviews with Indonesian MOFA representative and key diplomats from Indonesia Missions in Germany. Moreover, secondary data is taken from journals, articles, and news about Indonesia’s digital diplomacy activities.
