An analysis of the European Union's soft power strategies in Africa, with particular emphasis on education programs, mobility schemes, and cultural diplomacy

This systematic literature review applies quantitative methods to examine the European Union’s (EU) use of soft power in Africa from 2021 to 2026, with a focus on three strategic pillars: education programs, mobility schemes, and cultural diplomacy. By synthesizing recent scholarly literature, the article quantifies thematic trends, methodological approaches, and geographical emphases within current academic discourse. The analysis demonstrates a prevailing scholarly consensus that these instruments function as long-term mechanisms for promoting normative alignment and cultivating transnational elite networks. Quantitative findings indicate a pronounced research emphasis on higher education initiatives, particularly Erasmus+, alongside a growing but still secondary interest in digital cultural diplomacy. The review also identifies a significant gap in empirical studies that assess the perception and reception of these strategies among African publics, in contrast to policy-centric analyses. The findings suggest that, although the EU’s integrated toolkit is widely documented as a coherent soft power projection, its measured effectiveness remains contested and varies across regions. The article argues that future research should incorporate more robust, survey-based data from African stakeholders to move beyond programmatic evaluation and critically evaluate the tangible impact of these strategies on African political and public attitudes toward the EU.