The international conference will explore the following question: How are student mobility and academic exchanges, which are part of the “soft power” of China and Russia, part of the policy of spreading illiberal and authoritarian values and norms to the young generation?

Venue: The Centre for Baltic and East European Studies (CBEES) at Södertörn University, MA 796. The online part will take place on Zoom.

Please register yourself using the following link: https://sh-se.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_qHx1BYwPTUSpukRlR-RahQ External link, opens in new window.

The deadline for registration is October 28th. It can take a day or two before you get the confirmation email.

Language
English

Description of the event
Today’s international system is shaped not only by the Covid-19 pandemic but also by the tense confrontation between China and Russia with the West. Russia and China aim to exert strong influence globally and hold primacy in transnational relations. In pursuit of this aim, they use elements of ‘soft power’ (as defined by Joseph Nye (1990)) to undermine the trust of the third countries in the West and liberal values. There is a growing realisation in China and Russia of the importance of the development of a loyal young generation in those countries who would serve the regimes’ goals and reject democratic values associated with the West.

Moreover, there is growing evidence that China and Russia’s youth policies are being exported to the countries depending on them historically, politically and/or economically, such as Central Asia (the focus of China) and Eastern Europe (the focus of Russia). There is also a cross-regional influence, such as China’s in Belarus. For instance, since 2019 Belarus’ Youth Union (BRSM) and the All-China Youth Federation have been developing interregional cooperation. China has been exercising its own, state-supported, version of ‘soft power’ through the network of Confucian centres, with five functioning in Kazakhstan alone. Russia adheres to practising ‘soft power’ in a more traditional understanding. This includes education in the Russian Federation, short-term trips of foreign youth to Russia, development of youth organisations, and cooperation with young Russians living abroad.

The Centre for Baltic and East European Studies (CBEES) at Södertörn University in co-operation with the Washington-based Oxus Society for Central Asian Affairs plans to organize an international interdisciplinary conference on the topic “Co-opting post-Soviet youth: Russia, China and Transnational Authoritarianism”.


Our keynote speaker
Dr. Edward Lemon is a Research Assistant Professor at the Bush School of Government and Public Service, Texas A&M University, Washington DC and President of the Oxus Society for Central Asian Affairs. His research focuses on security and authoritarianism in Central Asia.