scholarly journals Federal University’s Role in the Implementation of the Russian Federation “Soft Power” Conception in Central Asia (The Case of Northern (Arctic) Federal University Named After M.V. Lomonosov)

2020 ◽  
pp. 223-232
Author(s):  
Slavyana Boldyreva ◽  
Roman Boldyrev ◽  
Nataliya Beloshitskaya
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
International Students ◽  
Central Asia ◽  
Russian Federation ◽  
Soft Power ◽  
Asian Countries ◽  
Central Asian ◽  
Educational Programmes ◽  
Central Asian Countries ◽  
The Russian Federation

Introduction. Currently the notion of the “soft power” is perceived as an effective way of nation’s non-forcible influence on other countries with a view to implement one’s own objectives. Suchlike implementation is confined to particular spheres to form a positive image of the nation. Higher education today is one of the most efficient instruments of the “soft power” implementation in the countries of Central Asia, for it allows securing friendly political and economic elite as well as enhancing the quality of labour migrants to the Russian Federation. The aim of the research is to analyze particular features of the “soft power” implementation in the domain of higher education in case with the region of Central Asia on the example of Northern (Arctic) Federal University named after M.V. Lomonosov (the city of Arkhangelsk, Russia, henceforth NArFU). Methods and materials. The study is based on systematic and comparative approaches to the analysis of the Russian “soft power” strategy in the domain of higher education. The study in hand also draws on general approaches to the “soft power” implementation in the region of Central Asia. The main sources for the analysis are annual reports on implementing the NArFU programme of development. These reports pay a great deal of attention to academic recruiting and academic mobility. Analysis. The Central Asia region is crucial from the view point of Russia’s interests. The region is rich in hydrocarbon deposits, it boasts a great transit potential in international trade, and this is the region where the biggest number of migrants come from to Russia. For these reasons Russia is strengthening its “soft power” influence on Central Asian countries in general and in the sphere of higher education in particular. From the very day of the NArFU foundation in 2010, the region of Central Asia has been considered as a high-priority region. The example of NArFU demonstrates that the number of international students in the total number of full-cycle students has risen by 8.4 times, wherein the growth is secured mainly by students from Central Asian countries. Central Asian students’ percentage of the total number of international students is 82–89.3%. The percentage of students from the region in question, doing short-term educational programmes is also high – 49.5–61.4%. Diverse mechanisms are exploited to attract would-be students to NArFU: agreements with educational establishments of the region; visits of NArFU’s representatives (both lecturers and students) to the region; NArFU’s participation in international exhibitions on education; presenting NArFU’s educational programmes on the basis of “Rossotrudnichestvo” regional offices; inviting school graduates to study within the quota for fellow-countrymen residing abroad; arranging off-site university testing and multi-disciplinary intellectual contests; higher educational allowances and medical insurance compensation; active promotion with the help of social media. The international Friendship Club and the team of tutors were set up to ensure better social and cultural adaptation, regular events and excursions take place on the same purpose. Results. Despite the fact that there is no general state-level integral concept on attracting school graduates from the countries of Central Asia to the universities of Russia, NArFU managed to occupy the niche on the educational market of the region. University’s administration has been pursuing a clear course towards attracting would-be students from Central Asia, exploiting a wide range of mechanisms to enhance academic recruiting, relying upon the advantages of Arkhangelsk region in the sphere of migrants’ adaptation. Over the recent ten years the factors mentioned above have brought about more than eight times growth of students from the region of Central Asia in NArFU.

scholarly journals EXPORT POSITIONS OF RUSSIA IN CENTRAL ASIA: REALITIES AND PROBLEMS

2021 ◽  
pp. 48-52
Author(s):  
M. M. Butakova ◽  
O. N. Sokolova
Keyword(s):  
Central Asia ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Russian Regions ◽  
Asian Countries ◽  
Economic Relations ◽  
Central Asian ◽  
Market Capacity ◽  
Central Asian Countries ◽  
The Russian Federation ◽  
State Of Affairs

The article is devoted to researching and assessing the state of affairs, identifying problems and prospects for Russia’s presence in the markets of Central Asian countries. The relevance of the problem is connected with the goals of maintaining the export positions of the Russian Federation in this market and with the goals of increasing the volume of non-resource non-energy exports. The authors investigated the dynamics and structure of world and Russian exports to the countries of Central Asia, highlighted the dominant commodity groups of Russian exports for each importing country. As a result of the study of the territorial aspect and the related specifics of trade and economic relations, it was concluded that a deeper study of export opportunities and prospects of Russian regions bordering on countries-importers of Russian products in Central Asia was made. The article outlines the problems of increasing competition in the markets of Central Asia and the negative impact on the prospects of Russian exports of falling incomes of the population and reducing market capacity due to the pandemic, the need to take a set of measures to maintain Russia’s competitive position in this market. As a result the studies of the problems of the development of Russian exports the authors came to the conclusion that it is mutually beneficial and promising, to increase the supply Russian products to the countries of Central Asia the need to find ways to increase its efficiency, and strengthen state support for non-resource non-energy exports.

Confucian Influence: The Place of Soft Power in China’s Strategy Towards Central Asia

China Report ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 55 (4) ◽  
pp. 328-344
Author(s):  
Shabnam Dadparvar ◽  
Hamidreza Azizi
Keyword(s):  
Central Asia ◽  
Soft Power ◽  
International System ◽  
Recent Decade ◽  
Asian Countries ◽  
Central Asian ◽  
The Status ◽  
Long Time ◽  
Central Asian Countries ◽  
Ancient Silk Road

China has traditionally had close relations with Central Asia for quite a long time. The main reasons for this are probably their social, cultural, and demographic bonds, as well as geographical proximity, providing China with a different status in Central Asia from those of the other regions in the world. These bonds have also been strengthened by the ancient Silk Road, beginning in China and passing through Central Asia and Iran towards Europe. Cultural relations, in general, and China’s attempt to expand its means of soft power in the region, in particular, have been a significant aspect of the ties between China and the Central Asian countries. It has drawn attention, especially over the recent decade, and has manifested in various forms. By focussing on the dimension of relations between China and the Central Asian countries, this article addresses the question of what does China try to achieve by expanding its soft power in Central Asia? The article argues that China has focussed on the expansion of its soft power and the consolidation of cultural ties with the Central Asian countries to expand its influence in the region and, eventually, to rise as a new centre of power in the international system. Following a conceptual discussion on the definition of soft power, the article analyses the status of soft power in China’s foreign policy and then, the representations of China’s soft power in Central Asia. Finally, the essay discusses the effects of the soft power factor on the expansion of Chinese influence in the region.

scholarly journals Key Problems of Political socialization of International students studying in the Russian Federation

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 14-18
Author(s):  
P. B. Salin
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
International Students ◽  
Russian Federation ◽  
Soft Power ◽  
Political Socialization ◽  
Asia Pacific ◽  
The Political ◽  
Main Task ◽  
The Third ◽  
The Russian Federation

The relevance of this topic is due to the need to realize the maximum potential of Russian higher education as an instrument of “soft power”. The purpose of this article is to analyze the problems that accompany the solution of the main task — the political socialization of international students studying in the Russian Federation. The article covers three main aspects. The first is the absence of a minimum level of knowledge of the host country for high-quality political socialization of international students; the second is the lack of full-fledged motivation for real, not formal socialization, the third is the lack of the same motivation for the effective and meaningful implementation of a set of profile measures among the employees of the receiving side. The lack of resolution of the above three problems makes it impossible and meaningless to work to achieve the main goal — the political socialization of international students studying in the Russian Federation. The main reason for the urgency of the first problem is the orientation of higher education of foreign students in the Russian Federation to maximize profits to the detriment of its other goals, the second is the cultural code of the majority of international students, and the third is systemic management ‘failures’ in Russia itself. At the same time, the unresolvedness of these problems significantly complicates the work with one of the most promising categories of international students — immigrants from the countries of the Greater Middle East, Africa, South Asia and the Asia-Pacific region.

UNDERSTANDING JAPANESE SOFT POWER POLICY AND ITS FEATURE IN CENTRAL ASIA

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
pp. 029-038
Author(s):  
Farrukh Usmonov ◽  
Fumiaki Inagaki
Keyword(s):  
Central Asia ◽  
Soft Power ◽  
Regional Cooperation ◽  
Transition Process ◽  
Asian Countries ◽  
Asian Region ◽  
Central Asian ◽  
Border Conflicts ◽  
History Of ◽  
Central Asian Countries

The states of the Central Asian region obtained their independence in 1991 and have been undergoing a turbulent transition process, such as civil war, cross-border conflicts, revolution and socio-political reforms. Japan has been furthering its cooperation with the Central Asian countries since the day diplomatic relations were established. Despite only a 25-year history of cooperation, Japan has developed numerous and diverse patterns of involvement in the Central Asian region. There is a positive attitude towards Japan and Japanese people among the population of Central Asian countries. This work explores the features of Japanese soft power policy and its development in Central Asia. The core of the multilateral collaboration format in Japanese Central Asian Policy is “Central Asia + Japan,” which aims to promote inter-regional and intra-regional cooperation among the Central Asian states.

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