International Campuses for Competition or Cooperation?

In the latest issue of CPD Perspectives on Public Diplomacy, Kyle A. Long, Professorial Lecturer and Visiting Scholar at George Washington University, explores how institutions of higher education help the U.S. gain competitive advantage and advance mutual understanding.

"Global American Higher Education: International Campuses for Competition or Cooperation?"  first explores the landscape of American higher education institutions abroad. Popularized around the Mediterranean, these institutions proliferated across Asia, especially during the past quarter century. They take on multiple forms, the most typical being a 5,000-student non-profit university accredited in the United States. Long demonstrates how these institutions serve both to advance American soft power and facilitate knowledge diplomacy.

Long asserts that these institutions have not featured prominently in official American public diplomacy efforts, and domestic political considerations constrain opportunities for incorporating them into official strategy. By surfacing foundational information on the size and scope of the landscape, Long points out, policymakers may begin to recognize their potential and seek out options for strengthening them.

Download the full text here.