Soft Power Essay

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Globalization has become a major boon for the teaching profession overall. An increased standard of living, accompanied by economic development has created a platform for which institutions of higher education can promote themselves. Particularly through the Internet and its overall reach throughout the world, higher institutions increase their influence. This influence, primarily derived from a position of authority can help expand the soft power of institutions throughout the world.

Faculty and staff are heavily influenced by the use of higher education to project soft power. Soft power is often characterized as a persuasive approach to international relations. This approach involves both economic and cultural influences by the institutions of higher education. Faculty and staff can therefore use their soft power to facilitate cooperation rather than coercion. For example when university policies are seen as legitimate both other countries, soft power is enhanced. Institutions within higher education are in a very beneficial position as many constituents look to them for guidance already. Often governments are looking for better methods, applications and technology. Society is often looking for better theories and ideas. Higher institutions provide many of the solutions that power the world forward. As mentioned above globalization only facilitates this process. Many ideas, concepts, and notions now have no boundaries. An idea in China can now have implications for policy in the United States. As a result, soft power exhibited by higher institutions is greatly amplified.

Faculty and staff will therefore play a very large role in this transition. Soft power typically originates from intellectual capital. Thoughts, ideas, concepts, and notions are generated through intellectual talent. Faculty and staff must use their talent to help further the influence of the institution of higher learning. Through this process, soft power is expanded both domestically and internationally. Faculty and staff will often compete with one another to arrive at a solution that provides prestige and moral authority to an institution of higher learning. This competition is not necessary harmful but it could create a stressful environment for both faculty and staff. They may be pressured to arrive solutions that only enhance the moral authority of the university while not furthering the ideals of society.

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These negative aspects however are minimal and are outweighed by the moral victory achieved by society. For example, the current military budget allocated towards defense is over $400 Billion a year. This is an investment in hard power, used in many instances for coercion. Meanwhile, a little over $1 Billion is allocated to pubic diplomacy programs and U.S. International Broadcasting, which are primarily investments in soft power. Society is facing a mounting pressure to use hard power as oppose to soft power. Higher education and primarily faculty are helping to abate this influence.

I believe the shift discussed by Jane Knight is a net positive for society. Knight mentions, "Competition, commercialization and trade as increasingly important drivers of internationalization." She appears to discuss these concepts in a negative connotation. I believe these factors will heavily contribute to the well being of society overall. Competition is great fro both society and countries. Countries that have a comparative advantage in one particular skill are better off focusing on that skill and minimizing the use of others. By focusing on the particular skill the country is best out, it eliminates inefficient operations that another country might be able to do better. As a result, society overall prospers. The China and United States interaction is a classic example of how competition actually helps both countries prosper. The Asian region relative to America has a comparative advantage as it relates to labor. The cost of labor in China is nearly 1/10 that of an American worker. As a result, goods can be manufactured cheaply in China. These goods are then purchased by American citizens at a lower price than what could have been obtained if the product was produced in America. The American society therefore benefits from lower cost goods and can use these savings to purchase other products to consume. America has better technology and Intellectual Company than China. America business and technology companies often provide China with goods and services they would not have achieved otherwise. This trade and competition therefore helps both parties.

2) This same concept applies to higher education landscape. Competition for students, faculty and staff make institutions overall.....

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