Indonesia is striving to propose the Spice Routes as UNESCO world heritage in 2024. However, we need a very long process and face some challenges. Besides a solid narration, the Spice Routes needs to gain legitimation from other countries.
Ananto Kusuma Seta, The Chairman of the Spice Routes Committee of the Ministry of Education and Culture, also stated that if we propose the Spice Routes as a world heritage, the collective effort in composing a shared narrative between Indonesia and other countries traversed by the Spice Routes becomes essential. “Larger than Indonesia, the Spice Routes involves many countries in Asia, Europe, and Africa,” he stated.
To gain other countries’ support, Indonesia needs to establish good relationships with those countries. Therefore, sending cultural representatives to run diplomacy to similar countries traversed by the spice trade routes is a means to reach the goal. To realize the cultural diplomacy agenda, the Directorate-general of Culture, the Ministry of Education and Culture and Negeri Rempah Foundation created a book entitled Pedoman Diplomasi Budaya Jalur Rempah [The Cultural Diplomacy Guidelines of the Spice Routes].
During the workshop to compose The Cultural Diplomacy Guidelines of the Spice Routes book (28-30/09), the chairman of Negeri Rempah Foundation, Dewi Kumoratih Kushardjanto stated, “We compose the cultural diplomacy guidelines book to let the cultural representatives know that as the cultural representatives, they must possess broad knowledge of Indonesia, intercultural insight, know what the Spice Routes is, and why we propose it as a world heritage.” She added that the chosen cultural representatives would be those who can adapt, run diplomacy, and represent Indonesia to the world.
Ratih also explained that they would conduct Soft Diplomacy or Hands Above. Dr. Hassan Wirajuda, former Minister of Foreign Affairs who is now taking a role as the Advisory Board Chairman of Negeri Rempah Foundation, stated the same thing. Soft Diplomacy or Hands Above is diplomacy that refers to the Srivijaya and Nalanda era. In the past, Srivijaya and Nalanda established a beneficial cultural diplomacy relationship. For example, Srivijaya gave a monastery to Nalanda. The student exchanges also strengthened the relationship between Srivijaya and Nalanda.
This kind of cultural diplomacy in the Srivijaya era can be a significant reference to the cultural diplomacy of the Spice Routes. It is a culture based on contribution, giving more through the farmer exchange, scientist exchange, writer exchange, and other exchanges. It will also be discussed in the book.
The book is planned to be printed in 100 pages, consisting of five significant points; the meaning of cultural diplomacy, Soft Diplomacy or Hands Above, the implementation of Soft Diplomacy or Hands Above in the contemporary issue, the guidelines to be cultural representatives, and the Spice Routes Program. They composed three big themes in the book in three days at Atria Residences, Banten, 28-30 September 2020.
Composed by interdisciplinary experts, The Cultural Diplomacy Guidelines of the Spice Routes is expected to simplify the cultural diplomacy process of the Spice Routes with similar countries and to reach the main purpose of the Spice Routes Program, which is to be nominated as UNESCO world heritage.
Text: Tiya S.
Translator: Dhiani P.
