Many countries practice cultural diplomacy by funding research centers at colleges, such as Germany’s Goethe Institutes or the U.K.’s British Council. But in the U.S., China’s Confucius Institutes have been accused of stealing scientific research and intimidating campus critics of Beijing. A new report from the National Academy of Science, Engineering, and Medicine provides recommendations for colleges that aim to balance cultural openness with security risks. Natalie Schwartz of Higher Ed Dive summarizes the findings. (July 2023)