Germany’s “soft power” strategy in Kazakhstan: educational and cultural aspects

Abstract

The research represents a case study and explores Germany’s “soft power” strategy in Kazakhstan in terms of education and culture. Since no research has been conducted before on this matter, the author attempts to provide the key information of the strategy, by analyzing its features, actors and the role of the German diaspora. In terms of the conceptual framework, the research is based on Joseph Nye’s concept of “soft power” and its interconnection with the “public diplomacy”. The fieldwork results showed that German officials do not use so-called “soft power” term in their rhetoric, but there is German “cultural relations and education policy”. Moreover, the research describes the role of the state, non-state actors and also of the German diaspora, and their level of cooperation in Kazakhstan.