Diplomasi Kebudayaan Indonesia Melalui Program “Bulan Budaya” di Universitas Walailak, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Thailand

Abstract

Cultural diplomacy is one of the important instruments in strengthening relations between nations, especially in the increasingly connected era of globalisation. This paper aims to analyse the role of Indonesia's cultural diplomacy through the ‘Cultural Month’ program at Walailak University, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Thailand, as a means of cultural diplomacy to increase mutual understanding and Indonesia's positive image. This programme not only introduces Indonesia's cultural diversity to the Thai academic community, but also strengthens socio-cultural relations between the two countries. Through an educational, interactive, collaborative approach and service learning method, this research explores the various cultural activities presented during the programme, including art performances, culinary, and language workshops. The results showed that ‘Bulan Budaya’ became an effective medium in promoting a positive image of Indonesia and strengthening non-formal diplomatic relations at the grassroots level. The findings emphasise the importance of cultural diplomacy as a strategic effort to increase Indonesia's influence in the international sphere, especially in the Southeast Asian region.