The Prospect and Limitations of Digital Diplomacy: The Case of Indonesia

Abstract

Summary One facet of information and communication technology in diplomacy is how and to what extent states implement digital tools in their diplomatic practices. This article focuses on the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) and argues that it has performed the early stages of digital diplomacy, during which it is carried out for information dissemination purposes and is mainly influenced by the domestic agenda. The research finds that Indonesian digital diplomacy is affected by various factors that have a substantial effect on the MoFA’s digital diplomacy plan of action. This article is a qualitative study supported mainly by primary data from interviews with Indonesian diplomats, high-ranking officials in the Indonesian MoFA, and Indonesian scholars and citizens. The focus is on the social media activity of the Indonesian MoFA on Twitter (@Kemlu_RI), Facebook (Kementerian Luar Negeri RI) and Instagram (kemlu_ri) from 2020 to April 2022.