Abstract
THE ROLE OF EXCHANGE PROGRAMS IN PUBLIC DIPLOMACY: THE EXAMPLE OF THE ERASMUS PROGRAM
Today, social changes such as technological advancements, rapid communication, and the increasing power of public opinion have led to a shift from a focus on hard power in traditional diplomacy to a soft power-centered approach in public diplomacy. Public diplomacy, emerging as a complementary element of traditional diplomacy, represents a more peaceful, collaborative, and conciliatory approach. In this context, global economic and political actors such as the European Union attach greater importance to cultural diplomacy and public diplomacy activities. The Erasmus Program, an extensive and multinational exchange program of the European Union, serves as a prime example of public diplomacy practices. The problem question of the study revolves around whether exchange programs, specifically within the framework of the Erasmus program, have an impact on the formulation of states' public diplomacy policies. The aim of the study is to emphasize that the Erasmus Program is a component of countries' public diplomacy practices and to highlight its significance in terms of global communication and collaboration. The research employed a qualitative research method, specifically document analysis, and descriptive research methods were utilized in interpreting the collected data. A review of foreign and Turkish literature was conducted, and the study was written using both direct and indirect citation research methods.
Keywords
Soft power, public diplomacy, exchange programme, Erasmus Programme
