Identifying Paradiplomacy Practices in Indonesia: Case Study of West Java Provincial Government

Abstract

This paper aims to identify the activities of the governance of the West Java Province, which can be recognized as paradiplomacy practices based on certain definitions or models. For this purpose, this research is constructed based on considerations relevant to the use of external sources by sub-national actors in West Java in the context of equitable distribution of national development. This research uses several methods: qualitative exploration, analytical descriptive, and comparative case study. Data is collected through interviews and documentation study. Paradiplomacy is used as a concept to see the phenomenon as a comparison between reality and theory. This research finds that strengthening substate actors in international relations is driven by the view that national development should be equitable. Identification of paradiplomacy practices in the governance of the West Java Province is based on three aspects. First, the field of paradiplomacy, namely the economic and cultural fields. Second, the type of paradiplomacy being carried out, namely ceremonial and single-theme paradiplomacy. Third, the function of the actor, namely West Java Province can function as a primary actor and mediating actor in carrying out paradiplomacy. This research also finds that the consideration of resource management capacity, opportunities of external sources, support from the juridical aspect, and local leadership initiatives bring dynamics to the paradiplomacy practices in the governance of the West Java Province