Kusuma, Sarkawi B. Husain

Total Diplomacy, Total History: Military Historians and the Indonesian Peace Corps

Introduction

Total diplomacy, total history: military historians and the indonesian peace corps. Explore Total Diplomacy & Total History through military historians' roles in Indonesian peacekeeping. Addresses challenges in documenting missions & proposes interdisciplinary solutions for compelling military history.

Abstract

Abstract: This research explores the concepts of Total Diplomacy and Total History, focusing on the role of military historians in the Indonesian peacekeeping force. The Indonesian government employs military diplomacy by deploying Garuda Contingent troops on global peace missions, aligning with the constitutional mandate of the Republic of Indonesia. As part of Indonesia’s total diplomacy strategy, military diplomacy is analyzed by deploying peacekeeping troops, engaging with other diplomatic instruments, and involving military historians to document missions comprehensively. The discussion encompasses the definition of military diplomacy, its international role, and its impact on Indonesia's global image. Military historians face challenges, including disrupted historical record-keeping and changes in the composition of historical officer positions. To overcome the obstacles in writing military history, the concept of Total History becomes relevant, integrating various scientific disciplines to support the historiographic process. In peacekeeping operations, military historians must grasp the totality of this scientific approach and present it more engagingly, meaningfully, and solution-oriented, relevant to the conflict areas they oversee. Abstrak: Penelitian ini mengkaji konsep Total Diplomacy dan Total History dengan menyoroti peran sejarawan militer dalam misi pasukan perdamaian Indonesia. Pemerintah Indonesia menjalankan diplomasi militer melalui pengiriman pasukan Kontingen Garuda dalam misi perdamaian dunia, sebagai bentuk pelaksanaan amanat konstitusi Republik Indonesia. Dalam kerangka strategi total diplomacy, diplomasi militer dianalisis melalui perannya dalam mengerahkan pasukan perdamaian, berinteraksi dengan instrumen diplomatik lainnya, serta melibatkan sejarawan militer untuk mendokumentasikan misi secara menyeluruh. Pembahasan mencakup definisi diplomasi militer, perannya di kancah internasional, dan dampaknya terhadap citra global Indonesia. Sejarawan militer menghadapi berbagai tantangan, seperti terputusnya pencatatan sejarah dan berubahnya struktur penempatan personel sejarah. Untuk mengatasi kendala dalam penulisan sejarah militer, konsep Total History menjadi penting, karena mengintegrasikan berbagai disiplin ilmu guna mendukung proses historiografi. Dalam operasi perdamaian, sejarawan militer dituntut untuk memahami pendekatan ilmiah secara menyeluruh dan menyajikannya secara lebih menarik, bermakna, serta berorientasi pada solusi, terutama dalam konteks wilayah konflik yang mereka pantau.

Review

This paper, "Total Diplomacy, Total History: Military Historians and the Indonesian Peace Corps," introduces a fascinating and timely exploration of the intersection between military diplomacy, historical documentation, and national identity. It centers on the Indonesian government's strategic deployment of its Garuda Contingent in global peace missions, framed within the broader concept of "Total Diplomacy." The abstract effectively sets the stage by highlighting how military diplomacy, as a key instrument of foreign policy, necessitates comprehensive historical record-keeping, and foregrounds the often-overlooked role of military historians in this complex endeavor. The research promises to shed light on how Indonesia leverages its peacekeeping efforts not only for international peace but also to align with its constitutional mandate and enhance its global image. A significant strength of this research lies in its conceptual framework, particularly the introduction of "Total History" as a methodology to address the inherent challenges in documenting military peacekeeping operations. The abstract identifies crucial obstacles faced by military historians, such as fragmented record-keeping and evolving personnel structures, making a compelling case for an interdisciplinary approach. The notion that military historians must integrate various scientific disciplines to produce engaging, meaningful, and solution-oriented histories of conflict zones is highly relevant. While the abstract strongly argues for the *necessity* of Total History, a deeper dive into the specific disciplinary integrations envisioned and the practical mechanisms for achieving this comprehensive historiography would enrich the argument. Further elaboration on how the work of military historians directly contributes to shaping or assessing Indonesia's global image beyond general documentation would also be valuable. Overall, this paper presents a compelling argument for the critical role of military historians in modern diplomatic strategies and offers an innovative conceptual toolkit for improving their efficacy. By bringing together "Total Diplomacy" and "Total History," the research contributes significantly to both diplomatic studies and military historiography, particularly from a non-Western perspective. The focus on practical challenges and proposed solutions makes this work potentially impactful for policymakers and military planners involved in peacekeeping operations. This study is poised to foster a more nuanced understanding of how national identity, international relations, and historical narrative converge, urging a more holistic and interdisciplinary approach to documenting humanity's efforts toward peace.

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