| ID | 095586 |
| Title Proper | Does soft power matter? a comparative analysis of student exchange programs 1980-2006 |
| Language | ENG |
| Author | Atkinson, Carol |
| Publication | 2010. |
| Summary / Abstract (Note) | Democratic governance depends not only on the building of democratic institutions but also on citizens' knowledge about how these institutions should function in their everyday lives. I argue that US-hosted educational exchange programs are one mechanism whereby citizens of nondemocratic states might experience life firsthand in a democratic country. Their experiences may impact the political institutions and influence political behavior in their home countries. In order for this process to take place, I argue that at least three contextual conditions are important: (i) the depth and extent of social interactions that occur while abroad, (ii) the sharing of a sense of community or common identity between participants and their hosts, and (iii) the attainment of a politically influential position by the exchange participant when they return home. In this article, I test these hypotheses and find support for what advocates of soft power often contend: US-hosted exchange programs can play an important role in the diffusion of liberal values and practices across the borders of authoritarian states. |
| `In' analytical Note | Foreign Policy Analysis Vol. 6, No. 1; Jan 2010: p.1-22 |
| Journal Source | Foreign Policy Analysis Vol. 6, No. 1; Jan 2010: p.1-22 |
| Key Words | Soft Power ; Student Exchange Programs - 1980-2006 ; Democratic Governance ; Political Institutions ; United States ; Student Exchange Programs - 1980–2006 |