Soft Power and Emerging Education Hubs in Asia

Jack Lee, professor of Higher Education at Nazarbayev University in Kazakhstan, has published a new article. His piece, “Soft Power and Cultural Diplomacy: Emerging Education Hubs in Asia,” appeared in volume 51, issue 3 of Comparative Education. Recognizing education as a “transmitter of culture and political ideals” with “tremendous potential to generate soft power for a state,” the article explores the interface of policies, partnerships and interests for three education hubs in Asia: Malaysia, Singapore and Hong Kong. The article moves from a theoretical and historical framework of education hubs, both within the realm of international relations and public diplomacy, to a practical assessment of their objectives and strategies. The article concludes that education hubs can cultivate lasting personal and institutional connections, and in turn, mobilize identities, values, and norms that represent public diplomacy in action. 

The full article is available here.

Photo by World Bank Collection | CC BY-NC-ND 2.0