Education Diplomacy for Soft Power Strategy: 8 Effective Techniques

In the 21st century, states have adopted new ways of diplomacy to achieve their national interests. It is believe that education is one of the effective strategy of soft power to advance country’s national interests in the international arena, as has been shown after the collapse of the bipolar international order.

State that wants to improve its image and integrity internationally and foster the right circumstances for its long-term socioeconomic growth employs a number of hard and soft power strategies in its foreign policy. The term soft power, which was coined in 1990 by political theorist Joseph Nye, is the capacity to attract and co-opt rather than coerce, and to use economic, cultural, and political force as a means of persuasion.

Great powers in particular, due to their bigger influence globally, have begun to place a high value on and pay special attention to the use of education as a successful soft power strategy. If the tools of education diplomacy implemented properly, it may contribute to the development of a state’s soft image by helping to broaden a more positive and long-lasting image among foreign audiences.

Soft power strategies and education diplomacy have begun to play a more significant role in the foreign policies of the countries in various ways, and it is anticipated that this role will continue to expand. The 8 most effective educational techniques to achieve national interest through soft power are mentioned below; these techniques would also direct state in formulating its foreign policy.

Educational Opportunities for International Students

One of the most significant tools of the state’s soft power is the supply of educational opportunities for international students. International students eventually become familiar with the host nation’s scientific and cultural accomplishments in addition to learning the language. After studying overseas, these students stand to acquire significant social capital. As a result, they are expected to effectively impart the language and culture of the nation where they had learned after returning home with new knowledge and interpersonal connections. As a result, using national education as a tool of soft power has a much higher efficacy than using armed force or other methods. 

Cultural Exchange Programs

Cultural exchange programs, such as student exchange programs, can bring people from different countries together and foster cross-cultural understanding. These programs provide opportunities for students to learn about the culture, language, and customs of another country, which can help break down cultural barriers and promote positive relationships. As culture is a significant part of soft power, through cultural exchange programs, a state can project its cultural values and beliefs, which can attract other states to adopt similar values and beliefs.

Language Education

Language education is another way education can be used to promote soft power. Learning another country’s language can help individuals better understand the culture and customs of that country, and facilitate communication and interaction between individuals from different countries.

Global Education Partnerships

Global Education Partnership can be achieved using education as a tool for promoting diplomatic relations between countries and providing support to educational institutions in developing countries. This can include initiatives such as joint research projects, academic partnerships, collaborations between universities, and providing aid for infrastructure, teacher training, and curriculum development. Global Education Partnership can help build positive relationships, improve educational outcomes, promote economic development, foster cultural understanding, and create opportunities for people from different countries to learn from each other. When used strategically, it can be a powerful tool for promoting diplomatic relations and achieving national interests.

Internationalization of Higher Education through TNE

Internationalization of higher education via Transnational Education (TNE) involves developing partnerships and collaborations between universities and colleges of different countries, which can facilitate the exchange of knowledge and ideas between countries and promote cross-cultural understanding and positive relationships. One way to promote this exchange is through educational outreach and exchange programs.

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These programs involve sending educators or experts to other countries to share knowledge and expertise or inviting educators and experts from other countries to participate in programs and conferences. TNE can help states achieve their strategic objective by promoting their soft image, enhancing economic development, developing human capital, and building partnerships.

Educational Diplomacy in Conflict Zones

In areas of conflict or post-conflict zones, education is a powerful tool for promoting human development, including poverty reduction, gender equality, and social inclusion. By investing in education in conflict zones, host states can help to promote initiatives such as developing educational programs that promote conflict resolution and civic engagement, and providing support for educational institutions and educators working in conflict-affected areas. This can attract students, scholars, and professionals from other countries, who can become ambassadors of the host state’s culture and values in their home countries.

Education for Sustainable Development (ESD)

Education can be used as a means of promoting sustainable development and building positive relationships between countries. This can include initiatives such as developing educational programs that promote environmental awareness and responsibility, and providing support for educational institutions and educators working in areas affected by climate change and other environmental challenges. By promoting ESD, the host state can showcase itself as a responsible and forward-thinking country that cares about sustainability and the environment. This can help enhance the host state s reputation and attract positive attention from other countries in the region.

Virtual Education and Distance Learning

In an increasingly digital world, virtual education and distance learning can be used to promote cross-cultural understanding for the students who might not have had it otherwise due to geographical or financial constraints and allow them to learn about the culture and society of the host country. Eventually, which can help to enhance host country’s regional/global dominance and influence through soft power strategy.

This can include initiatives such as developing online educational programs that allow students from different countries to collaborate and or providing access to educational resources and materials to individuals in areas with limited access to traditional educational institution.

In this advanced world, through the supply of educational opportunities for international students, cultural exchange programs, language education, global education partnership,  internationalization of higher education via TNE, educational diplomacy in conflict zones, education for sustainable development, and virtual education and distance learning, states can promote peace, tolerance, cross-cultural understanding, build positive bilateral relations, and enhance their soft power. These initiatives can ultimately help to improve a state’s soft image and integrity internationally and foster the right circumstances for its long-term socioeconomic growth. As Soft power strategy continue to play a more significant role in the foreign policies of countries, it is expected that education diplomacy will continue to expand as a powerful tool of soft power for promoting diplomatic relations and achieving national interests.

References:

1. Amirbek, Aidarbek, and Kanat Ydyrys. “Education and soft power: Analysis as an instrument of foreign policy.” Procedia-Social and Behavioral Sciences 143 (2014): 514-516.
2. Cowan, Geoffrey, and Amelia Arsenault. “Moving from monologue to dialogue to collaboration: The three layers of public diplomacy.” The annals of the American academy of political and social science 616, no. 1 (2008): 10-30.
3. Nye Jr, Joseph S. Soft power: The means to success in world politics. Public affairs, 2004.
4. Lima Jr, Antonio F. de. “The role of international educational exchanges in public diplomacy.” Place Branding and Public Diplomacy 3, no. 3 (2007): 234-251. 
5. Vaxevanidou, Maria. “Education as public diplomacy: How to build an international image in education.” Journal of Media Critiques 4, no. 14 (2018): 55-70.