Potential Contribution of the Bologna Process to Strengthening Russian International Political Attractiveness

Abstract

The category of “state power” is becoming increasingly complex and multi-faceted today, no longer being solely based on military or economic strength. Traditional categories of power gradually give place to more subtle forms of influence among which public diplomacy and attractive international image of a nation, which can be created and sustained, among others, via international higher education cooperation promotion. Nowadays, knowledge economy is becoming a tool of international influence for a number of states.In 2013 Russia will be celebrating ten years since it joined the Bologna Process, launched in June 1999 by the Ministers of Education of 29 European countries. The article analyses the potential international political contribution of the Bologna system to the development of Russian soft power tools, such as public diplomacy, Russian language promotion and strengthening the EU-Russia cooperation through the intensification of its cultural and educational component.

Keywords

• higher education
• international relations
• world politics
• soft power
• bologna process
• russia