International Education Programs and Political Influence

Exchange programs are often considered to create goodwill for host countries among foreign citizens - yet is this the case? Drawing on a wealth of research with participants and alumni of exchange programs, Iain Wilson shows that the pursuit of goodwill receives little return and distracts these programs from the benefits they are able to deliver.

"This book critically tests, by means of archival research, in-depth interviews and statistical analysis, the impact of particular scholarship exchange programmes on their participants. The testing methodology is a fine riposte to those who continue to question the ability to effectively analyse exchange programme impact, in either the short or long term." Giles Scott-Smith, Ernst van der Beugel Chair in the Diplomatic History of Transatlantic Relations since WWII, Leiden University, The Netherlands

'International relations scholars have paid increasing attention in recent years to the operation of 'soft power.' They have also recognised how extraordinarily difficult it is to measure its effects. Iain Wilson's timely study makes a major contribution to the systematic empirical analysis of the effects of one of the alleged sources of a state's soft power the extent to which it promotes a positive image of itself abroad by educating students from other countries. Using a carefully designed set of panel surveys of participants in international student exchange programs, Wilson shows that the presumed 'transformative effects' of such programs are far more limited than has hitherto been thought. This is a well-written and sophisticated analysis that challenges conventional assumptions with solid empirical evidence. It deserves the attention of all scholars and practitioners who wish better to understand the operation and potential limitations of soft power.' - David Sanders, Professor of Government, University of Essex, UK

Iain Wilson is Chrystal Macmillan Fellow at the University of Edinburgh, UK.