The Role of Pesantren in Indonesia’s Educational Diplomacy: Jaringan, Program, dan Penguatan Soft Power (1950–2020)
Keywords:
Educational Diplomacy, Indonesian Islam, Islamic Boarding Schools, Soft Power, International NetworksAbstract
Islamic boarding schools (pesantren) have become one of the oldest and most influential Islamic educational institutions in Indonesia, not just traditional ones. This study examines how they have played a role in Indonesian educational diplomacy from 1950 to 2020, particularly through their ulama networks, student exchange programs, and cross-border institutional cooperation. This study aims to trace the historical development of pesantren involvement in foreign relations, analyze the forms of international networks they have built, and explain their contribution to strengthening Indonesia's soft power. This research method uses a literature study with qualitative content analysis that allows for a comprehensive interpretation of historical documents, scientific publications, and educational cooperation archives. The research findings indicate that pesantren have consistently carried out diplomatic roles, starting from the ulama network in the 1950s, through the acceptance of foreign students in the 1980s, to the establishment of formal educational cooperation in 2000–2020. This involvement forms a channel of cultural diplomacy that strengthens the image of Indonesian Islam as moderate, peaceful, and locally characterized. Furthermore, the international alumni network generated by the mobility of students also serves as an agent for the dissemination of Indonesian values in various countries. Overall, Islamic boarding schools have proven to be influential non-state actors in educational diplomacy, as well as soft power assets capable of enhancing Indonesia's global standing.
References
Ainun, N. (2023). Transformasi Santri Go Internasional dan Islami Pesantren di Masa Depan. Journal of Education, Human Development, and Community Engagement, 1(1), 35–46.
Amalia, N. R., Studi, P., Hubungan, I., & Gontor, U. D. (2020). Strategies For Improving The Identity Of Pesantren Through International Cooperation In The Context Of Educational Diplomacy. Dauliyah, 5, 115–125.
Ar, S., Rozi, A. B., Tinggi, S., Tarbiyah, I., Usymuni, A., Indonesia, S., Indoenesia, B. P., Tinggi, S., Tarbiyah, I., Usymuni, A., Indonesia, S., Islam, P., & Islam, S. (2023). Significance of Islamic Education Institutions “Pesantren” in Strengthening Moderate Islamic Studies in Indonesia. Journal of Islamic Education, 8, 81–96.
Azzahidi, I. (2024). Kerjasama Paradiplomasi Pemerintah Pattani Bersama Pemerintah Ponorogo Untuk Pengembangan Pendidikan Islam di Thailand. Jisiera: The Journal of Islamic Studies and International Relations, 8, 32–44. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.13955240
Eviyanti, L., Nugraha, E., Hidayat, W., & Syarifudin, E. (2025). Modern Islamic Boarding School Education Management : Adaptation Strategies to Face the Challenges of Globalization. International Journal of Asian Business and Development (Metropolis), 1(2), 81–94.
Faris, M. S. (2025). Manajemen Pondok Pesantren dalam Meningkatkan Kompetensi Santri di Madrasah Bertaraf Internasional Amanatul Ummah Pacet Mojokerto Di era kerajaan Jawa misalnya pesantren menjadi pusat dakwah penyebaran Islam , di era perlawanan rakyat , di era kemerdekaan. Jurnal Manajemen Dan Pendidikan Agama Islam, 3.
Hasanah, E. P. (2023). Islam Indonesia Dan Diplomasi Soft Power. 1–26.
Hendrizal. (2024). Transformasi Pendidikan Islam Di Pesantren Pada Era Globalisasi. Didaktik : Jurnal Ilmiah PGSD FKIP Universitas Mandir, 10, 231–244.
Iqbal, M., Enhas, G., Zahara, A. N., & Basri, B. (2023). Sejarah , Transformasi , dan Adaptasi Lembaga Pendidikan Islam di Indonesia Pendahuluan Eksistensi pendidikan Islam di Indonesia memiliki akar yang kuat seiring dengan sejarah panjang Islam di negara ini . Di tengah modernisasi dan perkembangan dunia pend. Intelektual: Jurnal Pendidikan Dan Studi Keislaman, 13(3), 289–310. https://doi.org/10.33367/ji.v13i3.4457
Isbah, M. F. (2020). Pesantren In The Changing Indonesian Context: History And Current Developments. Qudus International Journal of Islamic Studies, 8(1), 65–106.
Maulana, A. (2024). Santri ’ s Multi-Track Diplomacy In Promoting The Islam Nusantara Identity To Global. Journal of Islamic Civilization, 1013, 177–191.
Maulana, M. I. (2025). Analisis Kritis Strategi Internasionalisasi Pendidikan Pesantren dalam Kerangka Integrasi Islam Nusantara di Kawasan ASEAN A Critical Analysis of the Internationalization Strategy of Pesantren Education within the.
Musaddad, A. (2023). Transformation of Islamic Boarding Schools as Islamic Education Institutions in Indonesia. Journal of Islamic Education Research, 4(01), 74–82. https://doi.org/10.35719/jier.v4i1.319
Muttaqin, A. I. (2025). Institutional Adaptation of Islamic Boarding Schools in Indonesia : Balancing Tradition and Modern Education. Al-Tanzim: Jurnal Manajemen Pendidikan Islam, 09(03), 1016–1029.
Naldi, A. (2022). Network Of The Middle East Nusantara Ulama. AT-TAZAKKI, 6(2), 233–254.
Nisa, D., & Purnomo, J. (2025). Modern Pesantren : Shaping Future Leaders Based on Islamic Values. Southeast Asian Journal of Islamic Education, 08(01), 17–30.
Royani, A. (2023). Peran Pondok Pesantren Dalam Pengembangan Masyarakat Di Era Globalisasi. Jurnal TAUJIH Jurnal Pendidikan Islam, 5(02), 124–145.
Saldaña, M. B. M. A. M. H. J. (2018). Qualitative Data Analysis (4th ed.). SAGE Publications, Inc.
Salim, N. A., Zaibi, M., Brantasari, M., & Ikhsan, M. (2025). Islamic Boarding School Leadership Innovation : From Traditional to Modernization of Education. Munaddhomah: Jurnal Manajemen Pendidikan Islam, 5, 447–460.
Soesilowati, S. (2022). Diplomasi Soft Power Indonesia melalui Atase Pendidikan dan Kebudayaan. Global & Strategis, 293–308.
Sugiyono. (2022). Metode Penelitian Kuantitatif (2nd ed.). Alfabeta.
Syakhrani, A. W. (2025). Transformasi Pondok Pesantren dalam Perspektif Kajian Literatur: Dinamika dan Inovasi Pendidikan Islam di Era Modern. Interdisciplinary Explorations in Research Journal, 3, 1–13.
Zahra, W. A. (2025). Quality Education through Pesantren , Madrasahs , and Islamic Schools in Globalization Dynamics : Pendidikan Berkualitas Melalui Pesantren , Madrasah , dan Sekolah Islam dalam Dinamika Globalisasi. Indonesian Journal of Islamic Studies, 13(3), 1–14. https://doi.org/10.21070/ijis.v13i3.1776
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Abdurrahaman Hadi, Livia Istiqomah , Muhammad Asro Al Munawir (Author)
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
