China’s Soft Power and Higher Education in South Asia

Romi Jain is Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Faculty of Management, University of British Columbia, and Executive Editor, Indian Journal of Asian Affairs. A China expert, she won the competitive federal grant from SSHRC, Canada, and has published in many peer-reviewed journals, including Asian Survey, Diplomacy & Statecraft, and Asian Affairs: An American Review.

"From Dr. Romi Jain’s meticulously researched and nicely written work emerges a compelling account of China’s latest efforts to engage neighboring South Asian nations in the sphere of higher education and academic research. This timely and insightful book should appeal to anyone interested in the evolving patterns of transnational higher education in the Global South."- Joseph T. H. Lee, Director, Global Asia Institute, Pace University, New York, USA"Interesting and insightful, Jain's book is a pioneering study on how China has promoted soft power in South Asia through higher education. Must-read for students and academics who wish to have a deep understanding of why and how China has enhanced its global clout in the 21st century." - Zhiqun Zhu, Professor of Political Science and International Relations, Bucknell University, USA"This meticulously researched study evaluates China’s use of educational soft power in Nepal, and its 'geointellect' initiatives in the case of Pakistan and Sri Lanka in its leadership’s bid to establish China as a knowledge superpower. Dr. Jain finds that, although the PRC has surpassed the West in certain metrics, it still trails behind in others, suggesting that the true test lies in whether China’s educational soft power can succeed in human cultivation and talent cultivation in these countries."- June Teufel Dreyer, Professor of Political Science, University of Miami, USA

• Part 1: 1. Introduction: Soft Power and Internationalization of Higher Education 2. Higher Education as a Terrain of Soft Power: China’s Goals and Motivations in Nepal 3. China’s Academic Charm for Nepalese Students? 4. Higher Education as a Conduit of China’s Values and Culture 5. Nepalese Students and China’s Foreign Policy: Perceptions and Engagement Part 2: 6. China’s Rising Geointellect? 7. China’s Geointellect in South Asia: The Road Ahead? Part 3: 8. Conclusions