Joseph Nye, celebrated US political scientist who coined 'soft power,' dies
Joseph Nye, the US political scientist who coined the term 'soft power,' died aged 88.
Nye served under former US President Bill Clinton as an assistant secretary of defense, but was best known for his academic work: He was 'one of the most influential thinkers in contemporary international relations theory,' The Harvard Crimson noted.
Nye helped develop the theory of neoliberalism and aided diplomatic efforts to avoid nuclear escalation between the US and the USSR during the Cold War.
His idea that a country's non-military clout on the world stage — such as Hollywood films promoting US values, or the BBC World Service as an advert for Britain — could represent 'soft power' is a crucial lens for understanding the modern world.
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The Bank of England is due to meet next week and is expected to keep the interest rate unchanged. However, money market traders give a 81pc chance of an August rate cut and are pricing in a reduction by September following the jobs data. The cost of government borrowing has fallen sharply in Britain has traders ramped up bets on the Bank of England cutting interest rates. The yield on 10-year UK gilts – a benchmark for the cost of servicing the national debt – has fallen nearly eight basis points today to 4.55pc. The fall far outstrips the pace of declines across peers in Europe, where yields are declining amid hopes that the US and China will reach a deal that could help boost global economic growth. The drop in borrowing costs has been driven by official figures showing UK unemployment rose to a nearly four-year high of 4.6pc in the three months to April. 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US commerce secretary Howard Lutnick and his Chinese counterpart Wang Wentao have arrived at Lancaster House in London for the second day of their talks aimed at easing trading relations between the world's two largest economies. Donald Trump's top trade official said the US-China talks were 'going well' and were expected to last all day. US commerce secretary Howard Lutnick spoke as the negotiations at Lancaster House in London got under way for a second day. The first round of talks on Monday lasted around seven hours. The value of the pound has come under pressure amid the prospect of a US-China trade deal as official figures showed a weakening in the UK jobs market. Sterling slipped 0.5pc against the dollar below $1.35 amid after warm words from President Trump and his delegation raised hopes for a deal. An improvement in trade tensions could boost the dollar, which has slumped more than 7pc against the pound so far this year. Sterling was also hit by official figures showing unemployment hit its highest level in nearly four years. Wage growth also slowed by more than expected in April, according to the Office for National Statistics, prompting traders to ramp up bets on interest rate cuts. Money markets indicate there is now an 81pc chance of a reduction in borrowing costs in August, compared to 68pc before the latest ONS figures. Jordan Rochester of Mizuho said the Bank of England would be free to cut interest rates at a faster pace from 4.25pc now to 3.5pc by November. Matthew Ryan of Ebury added: 'We think that a summer cut is back in play, with a good chance we now see a couple more rate reductions before the year is out.' China's struggling stock markets will not see a huge turnaround this year even if trade talks with the US in London are a success, economists have said. The Hang Seng and China's equity markets were hit hard after Donald Trump unleashed his 'liberation day' tariffs, although both are now above their levels on April 2. However, Thomas Mathews of Capital Economics said he 'wouldn't bank on a big turnaround thanks to any potential trade breakthroughs'. He said: 'Despite their recent performance, the tariff shock to China's equities hasn't actually been especially large, with other factors such as domestic policy more important. 'And, we doubt that the US will back off completely. That's likely to restrain any relief rally. 'Even if there isn't a broader rally, though, it's possible that any easing of access to high-end semiconductors – apparently up for debate – could give China's 'tech' stocks a boost. 'But we wouldn't expect too much there, either. It's true that the 2018 trade war seems to have been the catalyst for a fall in their valuations relative to their global peers. 'But, by far the bigger plunge happened during the subsequent 'crackdowns' by China's authorities, beginning around late-2020.' Officials from both Washington and Beijing are expected to issue updates later after the US-China trade talks resume at 10am UK time. The two sides met for nearly seven hours on Monday at Lancaster House in London. The US delegation featured treasury secretary Scott Bessent, commerce secretary Howard Lutnick and trade representative Jamieson Greer. The Chinese contingent was helmed by vice premier He Lifeng. The FTSE 100 has been powered close to record highs by a surge in defence stocks as Donald Trump resets the global world order. Defense contractors Babcock and BAE Systems are among the biggest gainers on the index this year, as well as precious metals miner Fresnillo. It follows pressure from Donald Trump for European nations to increase their defence spending, while a surge in gold prices has boosted miners. However, the index remains 0.4pc below its record intra-day high of 8,908.82 and its latest jump comes a day after a series of high-profile takeovers of companies on the London markets. Georges Debbas of BNP Paribas said: 'UK stocks are among the cheapest in Europe. 'The country is also the most friendly to the US, as it's the only one to have a firm trade agreement in place. That allows you to have a more constructive view on the market.' The FTSE 100 is on track to close at a record high today amid renewed hopes about the prospects of trade talks between the US and China. The UK's flagship stock index climbed as much as 0.4pc to 8871,41, which was above the record close it achieved in March. Stock markets plunged around the world following Donald Trump's 'liberation day' tariffs in April but equities have staged a dramatic recovery as the US president walked back on the most-severe of his measures. The S&P 500 on Wall Street remains just 2.3pc short of its record high in February, while the Nasdaq Composite is 2.9pc away from its peak set in December. European stocks were more cautious than those in Britain as investors stayed on edge awaiting fresh signals from the second day of tense US-China trade negotiations. The continent-wide Stoxx 600 was flat at 553, with the Cac 40 in Paris little changed at 7,793.37 and the Dax in Frankfurt edging down 0.2pc to 24,137.25. In London, the FTSE 100 was up 0.4pc and the FTSE 250 gained 0.2pc. The spotlight remains on the talks in London between the world's two biggest economies, as investors eagerly watch for any signs of progress or a thaw in relations. Gains in carmakers, which rose 1pc, were offset by financial services and industrial shares, which fell 0.8pc and 0.4pc, respectively. Among stocks, Novo Nordisk gained nearly 2pc after a report said activist hedge fund Parvus Asset Management is building a stake in the drugmaker. In Britain, Bellway gained 4.3pc after the British homebuilder raised its forecast for full-year volume production. Shares of Aberdeen gained 5.2pc to lead the FTSE 250 after JP Morgan upgraded the fund manager's stock to 'overweight' from 'neutral'. The FTSE 100 opened higher amid optimism there will be a fresh trade truce between the US and China as talks in London enter a second day. The UK's blue-chip stock index rose 0.3pc at the open to 8,862.40 while the mid-cap FTSE 250 gained 0.1pc to 21,310.57. Stock markets in China turned lower as investors worried the trade talks between Washington and Beijing officials did not go well. The Hang Seng in Hong Kong was up as much as 0.5pc in early trading after US officials said the talks had been 'fruitful' and President Trump indicated he had received good reports. However, by the afternoon the index was down as much as 0.8pc, with the Shanghai Composite also turning gains of 0.2pc into losses of as much as 1pc. Meanwhile, gold turned losses of as much as 1pc into a decline of just 0.2pc. 'People seem to be speculating that the talks didn't go well,' said Fu Shifeng, investment director at Cheng Zhou Investment told Bloomberg. 'The rally in gold prices as well as rare-earth stocks seems to suggest that.' Thanks for joining me. Donald Trump warned it was 'not easy' to hold negotiations with China as trade talks in London entered a second day. The US president insisted he was only getting 'good reports' about progress between the teams of officials from Washington and Beijing. 'We are doing well with China. China's not easy,' President Trump told reporters at the White House on Monday. 'I'm only getting good reports.' US treasury secretary Scott Bessent said it had been a 'good meeting' on Monday, while Mr Trump's commerce secretary Howard Lutnick said the negotiations had been 'fruitful'. Stocks rose in Asia overnight, with European markets expected to open higher amid hopes that the negotiations will ease trade tensions between the world's two largest economies. Apple's AI event falls flat as iPhone maker struggles | Investors sent shares downwards as Apple unveiled minor upgrades Thames Water lenders demand reprieve on fines in £17bn rescue deal | Ofwat urged to consider 'regulatory reset' after struggling utility giant hit with record penalty Nervous families freeze spending in blow to growth hopes | Fresh pressure on Rachel Reeves as retail sales rise just 1pc Miliband warned carbon capture project faces collapse without £4bn injection | Fledgling green tech has already received almost £22bn in public subsidies SNP ferry scheme suffers fresh blow after rain causes ship to flood | Glen Rosa is already behind schedule and £100m over budget Asian shares were mixed on Tuesday as investors kept an eye on the China-US trade talks that might help stave off a recession. A second day of talks was planned after US and Chinese officials met in London for negotiations over various issues. The hope is that they can eventually reach a deal to reduce painfully high tariffs against each other. Most of the tariff hikes imposed since Donald Trump escalated his trade war are paused to allow trade in everything from tiny tech gadgets to enormous machinery to continue. In Asian trading, Tokyo's Nikkei 225 gained 0.2pc to 38,177.71, while the Kospi in South Korea jumped 0.3pc to 2,865.24. Hong Kong's Hang Seng fell 0.2pc to 24,127.30 and the Shanghai Composite index was down 0.5pc to 3,384.47. In Taiwan, the Taiex surged 2.1pc to 22,242.14. Australia's S&P/ASX 200 advanced 0.8pc to 8,587.20. On Wall Street, the Dow Jones Industrial Average was flat, at 42,761.76, the S&P 500 rose 0.1pc, to 6,005.88. and the Nasdaq rose 0.3pc, to 19,591.24. In the bond market, the yield on benchmark 10-year US Treasury notes fell to 4.478pc from 4.494pc late on Sunday. 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13 hours ago
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In African universities, Russia's war against Ukraine finds new supporters
The halls of academia have long been considered sanctuaries of critical thinking, intellectual discourse, and the pursuit of truth. Universities across the globe pride themselves on fostering environments where diverse perspectives can be examined, debated, and understood through the lens of scholarly rigor. However, the Russian invasion of Ukraine has exposed a troubling trend within certain African academic institutions: a marked bias toward Russian narratives that undermines the very principles of academic integrity and intellectual honesty that universities claim to uphold. This bias is not merely an abstract concern about geopolitical alignment; it represents a fundamental betrayal of the educational mission that universities exist to fulfill. When academic institutions abandon objectivity in favor of political positioning, they fail their students, their communities, and the broader pursuit of knowledge that defines higher education. The stakes could not be higher as universities shape the minds of future leaders, policymakers, and citizens who will navigate an increasingly complex global landscape. When African academics present papers at international conferences that uncritically repeat Russian talking points, they undermine their own credibility and that of their institutions. Across various African universities, a concerning pattern has emerged since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Rather than maintaining the scholarly distance necessary for objective analysis, numerous institutions have embraced narratives that closely align with Russian state propaganda. This manifests in multiple ways: academic conferences that present one-sided perspectives on the conflict, research publications that uncritically amplify Moscow's justifications for the war, and classroom discussions that frame the invasion through the lens of Western imperialism rather than examining it as a clear violation of international law. Read also: Ukraine must look beyond the EU for its agricultural future The roots of this bias are complex and multifaceted. Historical ties between the Soviet Union and various African nations during the Cold War era have created lingering sympathies that some academics appear unable to separate from contemporary realities. Additionally, legitimate grievances about Western colonial history and ongoing concerns about neocolonialism have been exploited to create false equivalencies between Russian aggression and Western influence. Some academics have conflated criticism of Western policies with support for Russian actions, creating a dangerous intellectual blind spot. Economic factors also play a role. Russian investment in African educational infrastructure, scholarship programs, and research partnerships have created institutional relationships that some universities appear reluctant to jeopardize through objective analysis of Russian actions. This economic dependence has compromised academic freedom, creating situations where financial considerations override scholarly integrity. The influence of Russian state media and disinformation campaigns cannot be overlooked. RT (formerly Russia Today) and Sputnik have specifically targeted African audiences with sophisticated propaganda operations designed to shape public opinion. Unfortunately, some academics have proven susceptible to these narratives, either through genuine belief or through a misguided sense that amplifying Russian perspectives represents intellectual diversity. When universities abandon objectivity, the consequences extend far beyond the ivory tower. Students who receive biased education are ill-equipped to understand complex global issues, make informed decisions as citizens, or contribute meaningfully to policy discussions. They graduate with skewed worldviews that may influence their professional and personal choices for decades to come. The credibility of African scholarship suffers when institutions are perceived as politically motivated rather than academically rigorous. This damages the reputation of African universities in international academic circles, potentially limiting collaboration opportunities, research partnerships, and the mobility of African scholars. When African academics present papers at international conferences that uncritically repeat Russian talking points, they undermine their own credibility and that of their institutions. True intellectual independence requires the courage to analyze situations objectively, regardless of political pressures or historical sympathies. Perhaps most importantly, bias in academia contributes to the broader information warfare that authoritarian regimes wage against democratic values and international law. Universities that should serve as bastions of critical thinking instead become unwitting participants in propaganda campaigns designed to undermine global stability and human rights. The situation becomes particularly problematic when considering the humanitarian dimensions of Russia's war against Ukraine. Hospitals, schools, and civilian infrastructure have been deliberately targeted by Russian forces, creating a refugee crisis that has displaced millions of people. When universities fail to acknowledge these realities or attempt to justify them through geopolitical frameworks, they implicitly endorse violence against civilians and violations of international humanitarian law. African universities must recommit to their fundamental mission of pursuing truth through rigorous scholarship rather than serving as vehicles for political propaganda. This transformation requires several concrete steps. First, universities must establish clear guidelines for faculty regarding the difference between legitimate academic analysis and political advocacy. While scholars should be free to examine controversial topics from multiple perspectives, they must do so within frameworks that respect evidence, logic, and established principles of international law. Second, African universities must diversify their funding sources and partnership arrangements to reduce dependence on any single country or ideological bloc. The current situation, where some institutions appear reluctant to criticize Russian actions due to financial relationships, represents an unacceptable compromise of academic independence. Read also: Hiding in plain sight — how Russia's cultural centers continue to operate in US, Europe despite espionage claims Third, universities must invest in media literacy and critical thinking education for both faculty and students. The susceptibility of some academics to Russian disinformation campaigns reveals significant gaps in the ability to evaluate sources, identify propaganda techniques, and distinguish between credible and manipulated information. Fourth, African universities must strengthen their commitment to international academic standards and peer review processes. When scholars publish work that fails to meet basic standards of evidence and argumentation, it reflects poorly on the entire African academic community. Rigorous peer review can help ensure that African scholarship maintains the quality necessary for international respect and collaboration. The pro-Russian bias evident in some African universities represents more than just a misguided political position; it constitutes a surrender of intellectual independence to foreign propaganda. This is particularly ironic given that many of these same institutions pride themselves on their commitment to African independence and self-determination. True intellectual independence requires the courage to analyze situations objectively, regardless of political pressures or historical sympathies. It means acknowledging uncomfortable truths about allies while maintaining the ability to critique opponents fairly. Most importantly, it means refusing to sacrifice scholarly integrity for political convenience. African universities have a proud tradition of intellectual leadership, from their role in anti-colonial movements to their contributions to post-independence development. This legacy is endangered when institutions abandon their commitment to truth in favor of political positioning. The current moment represents a critical test of whether African higher education will live up to its historical role as a force for enlightenment and progress. The stakes extend beyond the immediate question of how to analyze Russia's war against Ukraine. Universities that compromise their integrity on this issue signal their willingness to subordinate academic standards to political considerations more broadly. This has implications for everything from scientific research to economic analysis to social policy development. African universities stand at a crossroads. They can continue down the path of political bias, sacrificing their integrity for short-term political or economic gains, or they can lead by example by recommitting to the principles of scholarly objectivity and intellectual honesty that define higher education at its best. The choice is not merely about how to analyze one particular conflict; it is about the fundamental purpose and character of African higher education. Universities that choose bias over objectivity risk becoming irrelevant to serious academic discourse and ineffective in their mission to educate future leaders. The world needs African universities that can contribute meaningfully to global conversations about complex issues. This requires institutions that maintain high scholarly standards, resist political pressure, and commit themselves to the pursuit of truth regardless of where it leads. Read also: Can South Africa lead the charge for nuclear safety in Ukraine? Submit an Opinion Editor's Note: The opinions expressed in the op-ed section are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Kyiv Independent. We've been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
