International Education as a Tool of Diplomacy: The Case of China–Africa Relations with Liberia as a Case Study

Abstract

This article examines international education as a tool of diplomatic influence, with particular focus on China’s strategic use of scholarship programs, Confucius Institutes, vocational training, and academic exchanges as instruments of soft power in Africa. Using Liberia as a primary case study, the paper traces the historical trajectory of China–Liberia educational cooperation from the resumption of diplomatic relations in 2003 to the landmark 2024 FOCAC Beijing Summit. Drawing on diplomatic records, institutional data, and secondary literature, the study finds that China’s education diplomacy in Liberia encompasses five interconnected dimensions: government scholarships, Confucius Institute establishment, capacity-building program, infrastructure investment in educational facilities, and people-to-people exchange platforms. These efforts have progressively deepened bilateral relations and positioned education as a central pillar of China’s broader soft power strategy in West Africa. The article further analyses tensions between developmental intent and geopolitical instrumentality, noting that while Liberian graduates acquire valuable technical skills, the selectivity of program design reflects China’s national interest framing. Comparative data from FOCAC I (2000) through FOCAC IX (2024) reveal an escalatory pattern in Chinese educational pledges, culminating in 60,000 scholarships and training slots for the 2024–2027 cycle. The findings contribute to the growing literature on education diplomacy, South–South cooperation, and China’s global influence strategy in the post-pandemic era.