CHINESE SOFT POWER AND CONFUCIUS INSTITUTES; BENEFITS AND CRITICISMS

Abstract

In the past 10 years, China has increasingly used soft power as a tool to create goodwill and cooperation globally. After their economic success and rapid power gains through traditional hard power means, China has tried to cultivate a worldwide attraction through various methods, including their economic power, public diplomacy, international institutions, and through educational opportunities such as the Confucius Institute. The soft power viability of the Confucius Institute is questioned and highly controversial. What kind of effect does the cultivation of possible Chinese soft power resources like ideology, policy, and values have? What kind of effect does the Confucius Institute have on soft power resources? How is this demonstrated at the University of Delaware Confucius Institute? Through case studies taken from around the world and a University of Delaware case study, this research hopes to answer these questions of effect.