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TERRA ECONOMICUS

Education and the modern struggle for leadership


TERRA ECONOMICUS, Vol. 23, No 3

Citation: Sadovaya E.S., Yurevich M.A. (2025). Education and the modern struggle for leadership.Terra Economicus 23(3), 68–80 (in Russian). DOI: 10.18522/2073-6606-2025-23-3-68-80

Acknowledgment: This article was prepared with the support of a grant from the Ministry of Science and HigherEducation of the Russian Federation for major scientific projects in priority areas of scientific and technologicaldevelopment № 075-15-2024-551 “Global and regional centers of power in the emerging world order”.

The formation of new power centers necessitates a clearer understanding of the role of education in this process.This is particularly important, given that cultural and ideological values, transmitted through education andlanguage, will be pivotal in shaping the emerging world order centered on macro-regions. Implementing thisvision into political practice will require substantial theoretical, organizational, and financial effort. While “hardpower” (resources and technological dominance) remains crucial, “soft power” continues to be a significantfactor in global competition. Amid economic crises and deglobalization, the struggle for intellectual and humanresources is intensifying, and success will hinge on states’ ability to adapt their educational systems to modernchallenges. Research findings indicate that the global balance of power in education has been undergoing changesthat will manifest themselves over the next few years. China’s position is notably strengthening, alongside thegrowing influence of other Asian countries and countries and states of the Arabian Peninsula, while the UK,despite the signs of gradual decline in its university system, has managed to reinforce its position in attractinginternational students through well-designed state policies. These trends highlight the importance of strategicgovernance in education within the context of global competition. For Russia, the practical application of “softpower” should focus on attracting and training qualified professionals for the domestic economy, the BRICScountries and the Eurasian Economic Union, as well as cultivating politically loyal elites and skilled expertsin partner countries within the macro-region and other friendly states. This approach will strengthen Russia’sinfluence and secure long-term competitive advantages in a changing world.

Keywords: power centers; soft power; higher education; competencies; battle for minds; battle for talent
JEL codes: O15; O57


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Publisher: Southern Federal University
ISSN: 2073-6606