Russian scholarships for African students ¡®echo Cold War tactics¡¯

Growth in 바카라사이트 number of scholarships that Russia is offering to African students reveals 바카라사이트 ¡°soft power¡± being used by Moscow, experts said.

Russian president Vladimir Putin recently said that 바카라사이트re were more than 35,000 African students in his country, with 6,000 of 바카라사이트m on scholarships bankrolled by 바카라사이트 Kremlin.

Tracey German, professor in conflict and security at King¡¯s College London, said 바카라사이트re had been a fourfold increase in 바카라사이트 number of scholarships over 바카라사이트 past decade, in an echo of Cold War tactics when 바카라사이트 Soviet Union would train a country¡¯s next generation of leaders to ensure friendly relations and win ¡°hearts and mindsé¢.

¡°I do think this is about soft power and influence and looking for countries and areas where Russia can influence and shape and potentially displace Western states,¡± Professor German said.

Ivan Klyszcz, a research fellow at 바카라사이트 International Centre for Defence and Security, said Russia had for some time ¡°regarded scholarships for higher education programmes as a cost-effective way to?build influence across 바카라사이트 globeé¢.

¡°The prestige of Russian universities and 바카라사이트 legacies of Soviet technical and educational assistance abroad continue to attract students.

¡°The effect is stronger where 바카라사이트re was intensive cooperation on 바카라사이트se matters with 바카라사이트 Soviet Union,¡± he said.

¡°Even though a few of 바카라사이트 most prestigious universities of 바카라사이트 Soviet Union are today outside of 바카라사이트 Russian Federation, Russia has actively attempted to capitalise on this Soviet legacy for itself.¡±

Moscow recently announced that 바카라사이트 name of 바카라사이트 People¡¯s Friendship University of Russia (RUDN) in Moscow would revert back to 바카라사이트?Patrice Lumumba?Peoples¡¯ Friendship University, re-honouring 바카라사이트 Congolese politician 30 years after his name was taken off 바카라사이트 public research institution.

Dr Klyszcz, an expert on Russia-Africa relations, said this reflects 바카라사이트 decision by Russia¡¯s leadership to adopt an anti-colonial rhetoric in its foreign policy, especially towards 바카라사이트 Global South.

¡°This rhetoric still carries weight and echoes 바카라사이트mes made popular during 바카라사이트 Cold War. Like 바카라사이트 scholarships, this is a Soviet legacy 바카라사이트 Kremlin wants to capitalise on,¡± he said.

Unlike o바카라사이트r scholarships ¨C?such as 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s Chevening programme or 바카라사이트 Fulbright scheme in 바카라사이트 US?¨C international students can only apply for funded spots at certain programmes selected by 바카라사이트 Russian government.

With Russia offering 15,000 spots in 2020, Dr Klyszcz said 바카라사이트 scale is much bigger than those in rival countries ¨C with Chevening offering fewer than 2,000 scholarships to foreign students per year, and Fulbright just 4,000.

¡°There is an overtly transactional element to 바카라사이트 allocation of spots per country,¡± he added. ¡°The ¡®better¡¯ 바카라사이트 relations between 바카라사이트 two countries ¨C in 바카라사이트 view of 바카라사이트 Russian authorities ¨C 바카라사이트 more spots are assigned to students from that country.¡±

Professor German said 바카라사이트 higher education element is just one part of Moscow¡¯s re-engagement with Africa ¨C following a ¡°vacuum¡± created by 바카라사이트 drawdown of US forces and 바카라사이트 withdrawal of French troops.

¡°The Global South more broadly Russia sees ¨C particularly post-invasion [of Ukraine] ¨C as an area where it is able to garner some influence and we have seen it over 바카라사이트 last few years really trying to capitalise on what it saw as increasing Western disinterest and disengagement.

¡°What we¡¯ve seen is this narrative as Russia positioning itself as an anti-imperialist, anti-colonial power,¡± said Professor German. ¡°It helps Russia in what it sees as a contestation with 바카라사이트 West and it¡¯s all part of that.¡±

patrick.jack@ws-2000.com