Analysis of KNVB Sports Diplomacy through Oranje Festival in Indonesia
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.55885/jprsp.v6i3.1154Keywords:
Sports Diplomacy, Soft Power, KNVB, Oranje Festival, Indonesia-Netherlands RelationsAbstract
This study analyzes the implementation of sports diplomacy conducted by the Koninklijke Nederlandse Voetbalbond (KNVB) through the Oranje Festival program in Indonesia. The research examines how football is utilized as an instrument of soft power and public diplomacy to strengthen relations between the Netherlands and Indonesia. Using a qualitative descriptive method and a case study approach, this research explores the role of football festivals in shaping public perception, cultural engagement, and transnational cooperation between football institutions and communities. The findings indicate that the Oranje Festival functions not only as a sports event but also as a strategic diplomacy platform involving football development, fan engagement, media exposure, and bilateral cooperation between KNVB and Indonesian stakeholders such as PSSI and local communities. The festival also facilitates cultural exchange, people-to-people interaction, and the promotion of Dutch football values among Indonesian audiences, enhancing mutual understanding and international engagement. Through football activities, cultural interaction, branding strategies, and grassroots engagement, KNVB successfully projects a positive image of Dutch football identity in Indonesia. This research concludes that sports diplomacy through football festivals can become an effective non-state diplomatic instrument in strengthening soft power, public diplomacy, and international relations in the contemporary global era.
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