ABSTRACT

This book presents the first comprehensive analysis of Confucius Institutes (CIs), situating them as a tool of public diplomacy in the broader context of China’s foreign affairs.

The study establishes the concept of public diplomacy as the theoretical framework for analysing CIs. By applying this frame to in-depth case studies of CIs in Europe and Oceania, it provides in-depth knowledge of the structure and organisation of CIs, their activities and audiences, as well as problems, challenges and potentials. In addition to examining CIs as the most prominent and most controversial tool of China’s charm offensive, this book also explains what the structural configuration of these institutes can tell us about China’s understanding of and approaches towards public diplomacy. The study demonstrates that, in contrast to their international counterparts, CIs are normally organised as joint ventures between international and Chinese partners in the field of education or cultural exchange. From this unique setting a more fundamental observation can be made, namely China’s willingness to engage and cooperate with foreigners in the context of public diplomacy. Overall, the author argues that by utilizing the current global fascination with Chinese language and culture, the Chinese government has found interested and willing international partners to co-finance the CIs and thus partially fund China’s international charm offensive.

This book will be of much interest to students of public diplomacy, Chinese politics, foreign policy and international relations in general.

chapter 1|15 pages

Introduction

chapter 2|17 pages

China on the global stage

Foreign policy implications and image considerations

chapter 3|24 pages

How states communicate

Public diplomacy and related concepts

chapter 4|27 pages

Public diplomacy in China

chapter 5|14 pages

China's public diplomacy at work

Major actors and main programmes

chapter 6|20 pages

Confucius Institutes

The star of China's public diplomacy

chapter 7|21 pages

Confucius Institutes in Australia

chapter 8|26 pages

Confucius Institutes in Germany

chapter 9|29 pages

Confucius Institutes

The real vs. the correct China