A Shift from Ideological to Soft Power Cooperation of Russia and African Countries in Arts, Education and Science

摘要

Russia has not colonized any African country, and its relationship with the continent is quite different as compared to other European countries like Britain or France. With the absence of language environment, there has been a need for creating new modern strategies of cooperation especially with President Putin's government shifting from USSR cooperation in education as an ideological strategy to current soft power tool. With a foreign policy of noninterference in domestic affairs of sovereign states Russia is steadily gaining ground in the continent. This article will explore the theory of soft power and analyze how Russia is using it as a tool for expanding its cultural and political influence in Africa through cooperation in arts education and science. It will also examine the changes from the USSR time to present Russian federation while exploring its foreign policy in relation to Africa, and lastly conclude with observations made and prospects.