Russian Public Diplomacy Through Higher Education

Abstract

This chapter reflects upon Russian governmental initiatives to attract foreign nationals to study in Russian colleges and universities and the outreach practices of Russian universities abroad as a part of the public diplomacy effort. Russia’s political class considers national higher education, along with the use of the Russian language, to be a valuable resource of the nation’s influence in changing the political context of the world as a whole, particularly Eurasia. Perceiving the competitive environment of international education in countries of the former Soviet Union in terms of geopolitical rivalry, the Russian government encourages state-owned universities to recruit more students and establish partnerships in the ‘near abroad’. With the influx of international students into the country, Russian universities do not only work for their own economic interests and reputations but also serve as public diplomacy actors, supplementing and substituting for the activities of official institutions. This interdependence between educational and diplomatic entities constructs a distinct style of international education practices in Russian universities and Russia’s public diplomacy.