In our increasingly globalized world, diplomacy between two or more countries is no longer limited to formal treaties and high-level state visits. Today, the ability of a country to use its soft power and project its traditions, culture, and values to attract and influence other nations has become an essential element of modern diplomacy.
Soft power, a term coined by renowned political scientist Joseph Nye, allows countries to achieve their desired outcome by promoting their culture and cultural products, supporting education and exchange programs, advocating human rights values, and assisting another country through developmental and humanitarian aid.
Contrary to hard power, which essentially relies on the economic or military coercion to achieve a desired outcome, soft power diplomacy strategically benefits the countries to advance their interests in a much more effective way.
Looking through the lens of soft power diplomacy, the bilateral relations between Ireland and Pakistan provide tremendous potential. Beyond the formal diplomatic engagements between Ireland and Pakistan, the two countries also possess vibrant cultures, rich traditions, and educational assets, which have become powerful instruments to bring people closer.
The people of Ireland and Pakistan share a bond that has deepened over time due to cultural exchange, educational collaboration, and mutual respect for one another.
Exploring the Potential of Pakistan’s Soft Power Diplomacy With Ireland
Pakistan’s use of soft power diplomacy to enhance its global standing and deepen bilateral relations with Ireland is still a work in progress but it holds significant untapped potential. Strengthening ties through the Pakistani diaspora, cultural diplomacy, and educational exchange presents a promising pathway for fostering closer and more meaningful engagement between the two countries.
1. Diaspora Influence
According to the estimates of Pakistan’s Embassy in Ireland, around 15,000 Pakistanis reside in Ireland, some of whom arrived in the country in the 1970s as doctors and decided to permanently reside in Ireland. Today, the Pakistani diaspora comprises first, second, and third generations of Pakistani Irish citizens.
The second and third generations of Pakistani Irish citizens are well-educated and employed in key professions including legal, accounting, medical, financing, engineering IT, etc. The Irish Pakistani business community and professional have also been actively participating in the economic growth of Ireland.
The Pakistani diaspora in Ireland serves as a bridge connecting the people of the two countries meanwhile contributing to the local economy and cultural diversity.
2. Cultural Influence and Celebrations
From the history and remains of Indus Valley Civilization to Sufi music, rich Urdu literature, and famous Pakistani cuisines, Pakistan not only possesses one of the richest cultural legacies in South Asia but offers a multilayered identity that resonates with the global audience including the people of Ireland.
To engage the Irish locals in Pakistan’s cultural celebrations, the Pakistani Irish community organizes several events and festivals including the Independence Day celebrations, Iftar dinners, Eid celebrations, etc. Last year, Ireland’s city of Waterford witnessed a successful celebration of Pakistan Independence Day.
A similar event was organized in the Cork City Hall, during which the rich Pakistani cultural products including traditional jewelry and rich Pakistani cuisine were presented to the diverse group of participants including Irish nationals.
The Pakistani Irish community also organized the Iftar dinner event in Dublin, which was attended by Irish Senator, Gerry Horkan and Fianna Fáil Councillors. The Pakistani Overseas Community (POC) Ireland also hosted a heartwarming Eid celebration in Edgeworthstown, Longford, for the Pakistani diaspora residing in Ireland.
Read More:Â Pakistan and Ireland: Divided By Distance, United by People
Last month, the Association of Irish Pakistani Physicians and Surgeons (AIPPS) hosted an Eid celebration in Limerick bringing together more than 150 Pakistani doctors and their families across Ireland.
Apart from hosting events for the Pakistani diaspora, the Pakistani community in Ireland also actively participates in the St. Patrick’s Day celebrations every year, during which they showcase rich Pakistani culture and cuisine, and invite their Irish neighbors to join in their celebrations.
To celebrate Pakistani culture with their Irish friends and fellow students, Pakistani culture night was organized at the University of Galway, during which the Bailey Allen Hall of the University was adorned with green and white flags, Pakistani music was played, and the traditional Pakistani attire was displayed. The efforts of the Pakistani Irish community to not only participate in the celebrations of Ireland but also showcase their own culture strengthens the bond between the people of the two countries.
3. Educational Incentives
Thousands of Pakistani students have been studying abroad in leading Western universities, acquiring education in the disciplines of sciences, medicine, and engineering, especially in China, the United Kingdom, Canada, the United States, and Australia.
Pakistan also offers cultural exchange programs and Pakistan Technical Assistance Programs (PTAP) to foreign students, mainly from developing countries in Africa, South Asia, and East Asia. Foreign students can also avail educational opportunities by directly contacting leading Pakistani universities.
As of now, Pakistan offers limited educational scholarships to foreign students. Irish students can however avail opportunity to study in Pakistan through the Commonwealth Scholarship and Fellowship Plan (CSFP), which is known for facilitating academic exchanges among Commonwealth countries, including Pakistan and Ireland.
Pakistan’s Ambassador to Ireland, in November 2024, met with the Dean and Acting President of the University of Limerick. During the meeting, Ambassador Farooqui highlighted the potential for an impactful partnership between the educational institutes in Pakistan and Ireland.
She emphasized the collaboration between the universities, think tanks, and academia of the two countries can serve as an important pillar of public diplomacy, bringing the people of Pakistan and Ireland closer than ever.
Ireland, a home to just over five million people, but with a diaspora of around 80 million people with Irish heritage scattered across the globe, is a textbook example of soft power diplomacy. Key elements of Ireland’s soft power include diaspora diplomacy, cultural influence, neutral foreign policy, and education and innovation. These elements of soft power diplomacy are deeply rooted in the foreign policy of Ireland and have helped the country in strengthening its ties with the developed and developing world alike, including with Pakistan.
Tapping the Potential of Ireland’s Soft Power Diplomacy With Pakistan
Compared to other Western countries, Ireland’s soft power diplomacy with Pakistan remains relatively modest; however, it holds significant potential for growth. By investing in cultural exchange programs and engaging more actively with the Pakistani diaspora, Ireland can strengthen its influence in Pakistan beyond the realm of economic cooperation.
1. Diaspora Engagement
Ireland is known for treating its diaspora as an extension of its national diplomacy. The Government of the Republic of Ireland actively engages with the Irish diaspora abroad through the Global Irish Network, fostering cultural, business, and educational ties between Irish communities and host countries.
In Pakistan, although the Irish diaspora is relatively small compared to the sizable Pakistani diaspora in Ireland, it can still be strategically engaged and supported through community-led diplomacy, particularly by participating in and promoting joint Pakistan-Ireland social and cultural events.
2. Cultural Diplomacy
The global cultural presence of Ireland is one of the greatest competitive advantages as it serves as a means to connect the country with not only its own diaspora abroad but also with new global audiences.
The Culture Unit of Ireland’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, which leads Ireland’s cultural diplomacy worldwide as part of the Global Ireland 2025 Strategy, can help organize cultural initiatives and events to further promote Irish culture in Pakistan. This can be done by launching initiatives that can lead to a broad awareness, appreciation, and understanding of Ireland’s culture in Pakistan.
The success of St. Patrick’s Day celebrations, hosted by the Irish Embassy in Pakistan last month, serves as a great reminder of the potential of cultural diplomacy and collaboration between the two countries.
Cultural diplomacy can be further strengthened through the organization of key events such as Bloomsday and Brigid’s Day celebrations, not only at the embassy level but also within Pakistani universities. These initiatives would serve as milestones in raising public awareness of Irish cultural heritage.
Similarly, another way to promote cultural diplomacy between Ireland and Pakistan is through Irish literature events, music and film festivals in major Pakistani cities, as well as by establishing cultural centers and Irish Studies programs in Pakistani universities.
3. Educational Diplomacy
The educational sector of Ireland is on the right trajectory of projecting Ireland as a major soft power worldwide. The Irish Council for International Students (ICIS) in its International Students Report 2021 indicated a steady incline in the number of Pakistani students in Universities of Ireland, especially in the fields of Information and Communications Technology (ICT), health sciences, and business administration.
Ireland’s study and post-study work visa policies as well as the country’s reputation for safety makes it an ideal location for Pakistani students and workers.
The Ireland Education Office (IEO) has opened its branch in Pakistan, with the aim to strengthen the bond between the two countries and offer new educational opportunities to both the Pakistani students, who desire to study in Ireland, and the educational institutions, who seek collaboration.
The Irish Ambassador to Pakistan Mary O’Neil also met with the Chairman of the Higher Education Commission, last October, to explore the opportunities to enhance educational collaboration between the two countries.
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For the past several decades, Pakistani students have been availing the opportunity to study in the prestigious universities of Ireland through various scholarship programs including the Government of Ireland International Education Scholarship (GOI-IES), Government of Ireland Postgraduate Scholarship Program, University College Dublin (UCD) Global Excellence Scholarships, and Trinity College Dublin Global Excellence Scholarships.
Pakistani students have also been availing of the Commonwealth Scholarship and Fellowship Plan (CSFP) to study at the universities of Ireland. These educational scholarships awarded to Pakistani students serve as a powerful instrument of Ireland’s soft power diplomacy thereby fostering international goodwill, promoting cultural understanding, as well as strengthening bilateral relations.
Soft power diplomacy offers a dynamic pathway for countries like Ireland and Pakistan to build a long-term, meaningful partnership. While both nations have made efforts to promote cultural collaboration and educational cooperation, earning global recognition and respect, there remains untapped potential. If effectively nurtured, this potential could redefine Pakistan-Ireland bilateral relations in the 21st century.
Javaria Khalid is a writer and researcher, who specializes in Pakistan's Foreign Policy Analysis, transatlantic geopolitics, and Pakistan’s relations with the European countries and the EU. She can be reached at javariakhalid011@outlook.com
