The Role of Culture as a Soft Power Strategy in the Promotion of National Interests Among African States: a Case Study of Kenya

Abstract

In the pursuit of their national interests, African states have employed different strategies including culture diplomacy. However, it is important of find out how culture is perceived in the international system as soft-power strategy in promoting national interests. This study investigated how Kenya has applied culture as a soft-power strategy in promoting its national interests and determined the effectiveness of culture as a soft-power strategy in promoting Kenya’s national interest. The research used soft power theory as analytical tool of study. A mixed-methods case study design was used in the study, which included both qualitative and quantitative techniques. The descriptive data was collected and managed using the qualitative methodology. Qualitative method was used to evaluate qualitative elements such as the respondents' attitudes and views, which do not have standard metrics. The quantitative method, on the other hand, was used to collect and manage numerical data that was used to quantify disparities, predict relationships, and identify characteristics. The study has found that Culture is known to shape ideas and serves as an instrument by which occurrences around people can be analyzed. It also offers people ways of seeing, thinking, and interpreting the things around them. The legacy of a state's cultural heritage and history has a significant impact on its external affairs. States inherit culture which in turn influences their interests and the course of action they take to pursue those interests in relation to other states. The approach a nation therefore takes to address its external problems is therefore determined by its belief and traditional values which have developed over the years. A number of countries in the first world continue to invest heavily in the area of culture and one of the indicators to this is the expanding presence of official bodies for cultural exchange in foreign countries. The function of culture as a soft power tool in the promotion of national interest among African governments was investigated in this study. This current state of affairs therefore inspires an investigation by the present study which sought to ascertain the role culture plays as a soft power strategy in the advancement of Kenya’s national interests. Culture as a soft power is perceived as a silent weapon that countries can use to gain soft control over other nations through the application of non-violent means to engender mutual understanding and promote relationships. The purpose of promoting culture by countries has therefore always been perceived as a goal of influencing foreign audience. The function of culture as a soft power is to entice foreigners to have a favorable opinion of a country's people, government, and culture. This in turn induces greater cooperation among nations and helps in changing and managing policies and the political environment in the international system. The study recommends that a strong marketing strategy should be employed to make use of every opportunity to market Kenya at the international stage through sports or export of human capital. Secondly, there is need to improve on cross-cultural education programmes. Where each culture can learn from the other, this will open different opportunities for learning and economic benefits. Finally, Kenya needs to invest heavily in the area of culture in order to facilitate cultural exchange in foreign countries by establishing Kenya cultural institutes in foreign countries such as Chinese Confucius institutes.