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Challenges and future of diaspora network
As far as advocacy for the protection of unskilled Indonesian workers overseas is concerned, for instance, the IDN’s objectives and activities seemingly fail to identify and address it in any way.
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The United Nations Department of Economics and Social Affairs estimated around 3 million Indonesian diasporic members in 2013 and Dino claimed 6 million. In 2015, the IDN stated there were around 8 million Indonesian diaspora members globally. (JP/Budhi Button)
L
ast June, I had the chance to take part in the annual meeting of Australia’s Indonesian Diaspora Network (IDN) in Perth. The presidents of IDN Australia were all present, representing almost all states in the Northern Territory and Tasmania, where chapters are still nonexistent. The Indonesian Consulate in Perth also invited officials from the Foreign Ministry, Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM) and Law and Human Rights Ministry to share their programs related to the Indonesian diaspora.
Ambassador Yohanes Legowo and Consul General Dewi Tobing addressed the opening, attended by nearly 100 members of Indonesian diaspora communities.
The IDN was initiated by former Indonesian ambassador to the United States Dino Patti Djalal in November 2012, aiming to connect all Indonesian diaspora members around the world and help contribute to the country’s development through capital investment, brain gain and networking. To meet such objectives, the IDN has conducted various events, such as gatherings and knowledge sharing sessions, including their fifth Congress of Indonesian Diaspora in Jakarta scheduled for Aug. 10.
Looking at what the IDN has become today since it was founded five years ago and all its potentials, as someone who has researched migration and diaspora issues, I would like to highlight challenges the IDN should be able to address sooner rather than later.
The first and the most fundamental challenge is the definition of diaspora, which categories Indonesian diaspora into four groups: Indonesian citizens who live overseas and still hold Indonesian passports, Indonesians who have already become foreign citizens, foreigners of Indonesian descent and foreigners of no Indonesian descent with a strong passion or connection to Indonesia.
Out of these four, the last is the most problematic academically as members of this group fail to meet the attributes of a diaspora as defined by scholar Jonathan Grossman, namely transnationalism, community, dispersal and immigration, being outside the homeland, homeland orientation and group identity.
Researchers Salut Muhidin and Ariane Utomo mentioned that the above definition of diaspora had a direct impact on the estimate of Indonesian diaspora members. The United Nations Department of Economics and Social Affairs estimated around 3 million Indonesian diasporic members in 2013 and Dino claimed 6 million. In 2015, the IDN stated there were around 8 million Indonesian diaspora members globally.
