Review: Usage of “soft power” as a foreign policy resource is currently present in majority of countries, but the effectiveness and response from the soft power strategy among leading countries is much higher than that of emerging centers of power. This article presents the analysis of the transition from “hard power” to “soft power”, examining the most competitive area – education policy, which represents the key vector of humanitarian diplomacy on advancement of national interests. In addition to assessment of the British education potential, the article also demonstrates how Brittan’s policy affects the foreign policy and country’s position in the port, defines the potential of influence upon other countries in the context attractiveness of British national culture and values, as well as sets the global trends for education policy. In the course of daily research of the resource of “soft power”, the research employs the data on measurement of “hard-soft power”, ratings of assessment of the index of “soft power” (The Soft Power 30), QS World University Ranking; utilizes the data on the number of foreign students in UK; conducts comparative analysis of the changes in the UK education policy in the conditions of Brexit. The relevance of this research is defined by the heightened interest towards soft-power component, which allows to not only be more flexible in the approach towards advancement of national interests, but also contributes to influence of other countries in the context of “soft power”.

Keywords: European Union, Brexit, rating of «soft power», index of «soft power», cooperation, education, United kingdom, soft power, foreign policy, influence

Review:  Whenever any state’s sovereignty is threatened, its first instinct is to protect itself. In 2015, the European Union was in the spotlight, recording unprecedented numbers of migrants, and as a result, refugee camps deteriorated to deplorable conditions. Illegal migration was perceived as a security threat in Europe, and member-states were forced to take measures that compromise the very foundation of the European Union. Suddenly, their policies were fuelled with anti-immigration sentiments; anti-immigration operations and agreements between the EU and migrants’ countries of origin were conducted and signed, as well as tougher border security policies were put in place, including fences. This resulted in record-low numbers of illegal migration by 2019. This article will analyze European Union’s foreign policy on illegal migration between 2015 and 2019, while underscoring the extreme measures that some states within the EU took to mitigate migration. This research highlights the moral dilemma posed by many Human Rights Organizations, putting into question Europe’s moral compass and values. A conclusion is made that in the matters of security, states are willing to take a moral backseat in order to safeguard its security and position in the global system.

Keywords: sea patrol, walls and fences, border control, policies, internal and external security, moral dilemma, illegal migration, refugees, Europe, European Union