Improving national competence internationally<\/p>\n
By Mochtar Buchori<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Foreign Minister Ali Alatas complained recently
\nabout Indonesian diplomats' lack of debating capability. He cited
\ninsufficient command of English and poor debating skill as the
\nreasons. The latter being the consequence of tradition.<\/p>\n
Indonesian tradition states that it is improper for anyone to
\nembarrass a speaker or a participant in a discussion by asking
\ndifficult questions or expressing unpleasant remarks.<\/p>\n
I think Minister Alatas' remark applies to non-diplomats as
\nwell. Complaints have been expressed for a long time that
\nIndonesian participants are usually too quiet at international
\nseminars. They do not raise questions or give comment, and if
\nthey must respond to remarks or comments about their
\npresentation, they usually do this in a rather clumsy way.<\/p>\n
The reason for this poor performance is, I think, similar to
\nthe one cited by the minister: Poor English and lack of skill in
\npresenting and defending ideas and opinions in a systematic and
\neloquent manner.<\/p>\n
It is truly a relief to observe that a new generation of
\nIndonesians seems to have emerged. On several occasions during
\nthe past two years, I have witnessed a number of young
\nIndonesians who performed very admirably as seminar participants.
\nThey presented their views quite systematically and in very
\nenjoyable English. They did not show any sign of self-
\nconsciousness or uneasiness in using the English language. They
\nexhibited such a sharp contrast to the older more silent
\nIndonesians who emphasized their seniority every time they spoke.<\/p>\n
These young Indonesians are scholars between 30 and 40 years
\nold, have studied abroad for an extended period and have
\naccumulated experience in international seminars.<\/p>\n
In addition to their fluent English, their papers are relevant
\nand respectable, and through their questions, comments, and
\nremarks they contribute to the clarification of problems
\ndiscussed in the seminar.<\/p>\n
Observing this contrast, I wonder whether this is truly a sign
\nof the arrival of a new and more competent generation of
\nIndonesians. I cannot help ask myself a number of questions: Who
\nare they really, and what kind of experiences make them so self-
\nconfident? Is there anything from their experience that older
\nIndonesians can adopt to become more competent and self-
\nconfident? What actually makes these younger Indonesians
\nseemingly free of certain psychological inhibitions that are so
\npervasive among older generations?<\/p>\n
If this particular phenomenon is really signaling the birth of
\na new generation of Indonesians which is better educated, more
\ncompetent, and more self-confident than the preceding ones, then
\nwe do not have to worry excessively about all the shortcomings of
\nthe present generation.<\/p>\n
But is this really the case? I doubt it. How many young
\nIndonesians have the luck of being sent to study abroad for an
\nextended period of time? And how many of them have managed to go
\nvery far in their studies?<\/p>\n
Thus, encouraging as the young generation may be, I somehow do
\nnot think that we can rely entirely on the outflow of more
\ncapable younger Indonesians for a timely improvement in our
\nnational capability in international diplomacy and other
\ninternational negotiations.<\/p>\n
We shouldn't wait passively for the arrival of more capable
\nyounger Indonesians to increase our competence in international
\ndealings. For this purpose both the processes of preparing the
\nyounger generation to be more competent (inter-generational
\nimprovement) and stimulating older generations towards self-
\nimprovement (intra-generational improvement) must be encouraged
\nand supported.<\/p>\n
How do we generate this process of personal and generational
\nself-improvement? What is the basis of such a process?<\/p>\n
I think that any self-improvement effort is sparked by the
\nawareness of one's shortcomings. This awareness will generate
\neffective efforts toward self-improvement only if it is followed
\nand propped-up by an understanding of the sources of these
\nshortcomings. In the case of personal self-improvement this
\nunderstanding can be obtained only through honest introspective
\nself-examination, a process which can be very painful and
\nrequires courage and humility.<\/p>\n
Collective self-improvement within one generation is basically
\nthe same process. There must be awareness concerning the
\nshortcomings of one generation, and there must be knowledge
\nconcerning the origin of these shortcomings.<\/p>\n
The principle difference is that generational self-improvement
\ncannot happen without an organized effort. It is unrealistic to
\nexpect that a generation will embark upon a self-improvement
\neffort without the support of a solid organization.<\/p>\n
In most cases it is processional, occupational or bureaucratic
\norganizations that have the capability of generating a sustained
\nself-improvement campaign. Generational self-improvement efforts
\nthen become professional, occupational or bureaucratic retraining
\nactivities.<\/p>\n
Experience shows that without strong motivation for personal
\nself-improvement, professional retraining programs cannot bring
\nabout permanent professional improvement. Such retraining
\nprograms are capable only of generating temporary improvements,
\nand cannot create ethos for professional perfectionism.<\/p>\n
And it is this ethos which, in my opinion, can bring about
\nsignificant improvement in our national capability in
\ninternational interactions. What are the most important sources
\nof our poor national performance in international interactions?<\/p>\n
We will only be able to answer this question if we are willing
\nto honestly search our souls. Such probing will lead us towards
\nknowledge about ourselves and is the beginning of self-
\nimprovement.<\/p>\n
Each generation must discover if they are willing to
\nacknowledge their shortcomings and if there is confidence in the
\nnation's capacity for professional self-improvement based on the
\nethos of perfectionism.<\/p>\n
The writer is on observer of social and political affairs.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/improving-national-competence-internationally-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }