Soft Diplomacy Efforts Through the BIPA Program from Educational and Cultural Attaché (Atdikbud) in Manila to Improve Bilateral Relations between the Philippines and Indonesia in 2021-2023

Abstract

On November 24, 2023, bilateral relations between Indonesia and the Philippines will be 74 years old. Indonesia has shared ways to maintain bilateral relations with the Philippines. However, judging from the world political and economic upheaval after COVID-19 and the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Indonesia must anticipate various risks that will arise. Therefore, the author will look at Indonesia's efforts, through Atdikbud Manila, to improve bilateral relations between Indonesia and the Philippines through soft diplomacy in the education sector. The author will use qualitative research methods with a descriptive analysis research type. According to John W. Creswell, qualitative research explores and understands the meaning several individuals or groups ascribe to social or humanitarian problems. Qualitative research can describe the speech, writing, or behavior observed by a particular individual, group, society, or organization in a particular setting, and everything will be studied from a complete, comprehensive, and holistic point of view. This qualitative approach can guide the analysis of soft diplomacy efforts to improve bilateral relations between the Philippines and Indonesia through the BIPA Atdikbud Manila program. The efforts made by Indonesia through Atdikbud Manila in implementing the BIPA (Indonesian Language for Foreign Speakers) program are a good step in improving bilateral relations between the two countries. Even though bilateral relations have existed for 74 years, Indonesia must always maintain them through soft diplomacy. In the end, Indonesia's efforts to implement soft diplomacy through the BIPA program can be achieved in 2021–2023, as seen from the increase in applicants who want to take BIPA classes.