Multi-Track Diplomacy of The Ministry of Youth and Sports on The Indonesian Dream Program in Australia

Abstrak

The Indonesian Dream Program is a strategy of Indonesia's Ministry of Youth and Sports aimed at strengthening bilateral relations with Australia and enhancing the capacity of Indonesian youth. This program employs a multitrack diplomacy (MTD) approach that involves governmental actors, private sectors, educational institutions, a nd civil society organizations. This study aims to analyse the implementation of multitrack diplomacy in the programs' execution and evaluate its contribution to improving Indonesia's Youth Development Index. Using a qualitative and case study approach, data were collected through in-depth interviews with Ministry officials, program alumni Australia Partners. Then they analyzed using Diamond & McDonald's Multi-Track Diplomacy theory and Harold Nicolson's role theory. The findings indicate that diplomacy through government, business, and education tracks synergistically supports the program's success, particularly by strengthening cultural diplomacy, professional internships, and cross-cultural leadership training. The program enhances leadership, global communication, and employability skills and positively impacts the national Youth Development Index, particularly leadership, articulation, and employment opportunity domains. This study highlights the importance of optimizing youth as non-state diplomatic actors in international relations and recommends increasing private-sector involvement and expanding international education collaboration to strengthen Indonesia's youth diplomacy strategy.