The Changing Soft Power Landscape of International Higher Education

By Dan Kent With the release of an updated strategy on international education and engagement by the US Department of Education, the US government has acknowledged the importance of education as a vehicle for advancing its international interests. Specifically, the US higher education sector has long been widely acknowledged as a source of soft power…

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South Korea’s Soft Power Playbook

By Lauren McCranie In 1990, Joseph Nye sought to think more holistically about global power dynamics and introduced the concept of soft power: the ability of a country to persuade foreign publics to agree with its policies and stances without explicit force (as opposed to hard power levers like military force). A country’s soft power…

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Displaced and Vulnerable: LGBTQ People in Conflict Zones

By Dan Kent With one of the largest refugee crises in Europe since World War II continuing to unfold in Ukraine, it is worth examining the various ramifications that such an outflow of people involves, including in other conflict zones. Although much has been discussed regarding the unimaginable human toll in death and suffering across…

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Year End Reading List

As 2018 comes to a close, YPFP NY’s staff shares some of their favorite reads of the year: 1983: Reagan, Andropov, and a World on the Brink By Taylor Downing A gripping account of how close the world came to nuclear catastrophe through misunderstandings and a climate of heightened suspicions. Code Girls By Liza Mundy…

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End of Summer Reading List

The end of summer is always bittersweet. To help smooth the transition back to the real world, the YPFP New York staff presents 10 recommendations for books, podcasts, and articles. Enjoy! Books Bring Out the Dog by Will Mackin, a collection of short stories by a Navy veteran that capture the psychological weirdness of military life…

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