A Collective Vision

As I close my eyes and drift away to a land where there is love, health, peace, and blessings. I wanted to take the time to think and reflect. 

     The truth is that I began to write a series of thoughts posts that were linked to the idea of diplomacy. Soft power, hard power, etc. Then I took a break because I felt that it was necessary to allow some space in between my thoughts, to reflect upon these topics. Finally, it is time to write some sort of conclusion to wrap up these thoughts, although this is not to say that these topics don't deserve attention, they actually deserve serious attention.

     You are invited to read the following thoughts posts that are tied to these thoughts for a couple understanding of my thoughts.
The Human Touch
Diplomatic Defence 
A Travellers Document
Purple Training
Rise For Peace
Own Flaws
​A Flourishing Thought 
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​soft power is a persuasive International relations approach. It is the ability to coerce others to win hearts and minds.

Hard power is a persuasive approach that uses the strength of the military. 

     Soft power was a concept developed by political theorist Joseph Nye, about 10 years earlier. However, the use of Soft Power has been used historically. To offer an example we can think about the time when Hungary saw the end of communism in 1989. The U.S. provided vital aids and interventions with the Fulbright Program, through this political transition. The success of this facilitation was high. What we did see during this intervention was the U.S. aided Hungary, and Hungary also sent scholars, researchers, and students to the U. S. So what was happening? Both countries were engaged in diplomatic relations, and they were benefiting mutually. We can even go further into history when there were no exchanges or definitions. Ancient civilizations such as the Roman Empire was promoting Latin culture through cultural exchanges.

     Today whilst we do have definitions, thriving and flourishing education exchange programs that are working successfully through international education, I think that Knowledge and it is crucial role to create, build, maintain, and preserve diplomatic relations has to be thought about critically. To tell you the truth there is a blur of lines between diplomacy, political defence, and also national identity. Whilst this may not have been the case historically, today there is a great realization of the power of knowledge, and diplomacy with the use of knowledge.

     If the use of knowledge diplomacy, or cultural exchanges can save us from wars, then who wouldn't want this? However, with the realization of anything these is also a part where it can be used for the purposes of selfish gains and exploitations. If we are to continue to use knowledge for the purposes of diplomacy, and build relations with other countries, then there should always be some sort of mutual benefits, it is not fair if countries who are involved in some sort of partnership agreement solely benefit. However, there are countries who are utilizing the power of knowledge to this accord. 

     If we are to move forward with a collective vision of peace globally, we must consider the +/- of knowledge diplomacy, International education, exchanges, and activities, are one avenue to this type of diplomacy. Governments, and foreign policy will intervene because there is a cross - border flow of people. So in short, with the recognition of the powerful role of knowledge, it is also a time to think about how these knowledge economies are being used. Looking at historical examples can be beneficial to the contemporary efforts of educators and policy makers. 

Dedication: Any exchange, word, or amount of knowledge should always be given with the purity of heart. Dedicated to all beings, my thoughts to share with love & kindness! :) 

Notes: These thoughts were originally hand written on July 24th 2017.

These thoughts are derived from my own research, whilst I have tried to be a simplistic in terms of definitions, please read scholarly definitions for references. 

Further reading 
​The Benefits of soft power 

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