New Delhi, May 22 -- Recent announcements and measures by certain Western governments to curtail the inflow of international students have raised eyebrows about its rationale and whether a rethink on education as soft power is underway. Over decades, international education has been a significant soft power influencer and used effectively by several developed countries. Indeed, the inclusion of international education in soft power measurement reflected its increasing recognition as a soft power resource and how it can be used to win long-term friends among international audiences.

Western countries, especially the US, gained significantly from international education. As a soft power resource, it was used to tell America's story to the ...