Student Exchange, Soft Power and Cultural Diplomacy

Governments have long used education and culture to build goodwill abroad. Political scientist Joseph Nye coined the term soft power in 1990 to describe the ability to attract others through culture, values and policies rather than force or payment. Educational exchanges are a key tool. The British Council was founded in 1934, and the US Fulbright Program, created in 1946, has sent scholars and students between the United States and many other countries.

The European Union's Erasmus programme, launched in 1987, has enabled millions of students to study in other European countries, helping create a sense of European identity. China opened its first Confucius Institute in Seoul in 2004 to teach Chinese language and culture; some universities later closed theirs amid debates over academic freedom and government influence. Exchanges can build friendships and understanding, but they also serve national interests, which is why they are both valued and scrutinized.