DEPOK CITY PARADIPLOMACY: STRATEGIES AND CHALLENGES IN UCCN 2023 SELECTION

Abstract

The  rapid  physical  and  social  transformation  of  Depok  City  from  an  agrarian  hub  into  an information-technology-driven  satellite city has forced a fundamental reorientation of its identity. To project this new digital identity globally, the Depok City Government engaged in paradiplomacy by competing in the 2023 UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN) national selection under the Media Arts category. This study aims to analyze the multilevel diplomacy strategies implemented by Depok and identify the internal and external challenges that led to its failure in the final national stage. Using a descriptive qualitative approach, primary data was collected through in-depth interviews with key planning officials  at Bapperida Depok, complemented by official document analysis. The findings show that while Depok possesses strong localized digital modalities, including a highly literate youth demographic,  robust  software startups like “Flip”, and high citizen engagement with Smart Cities Initiatives, its international bid was hindered by a weak proposal dossier, lack of external advisory expertise, and unsynchronized national evaluation metrics across central ministries