Rethinking China’s Soft Power

2014 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Gordon Houlden ◽  
Heather Schmidt
Keyword(s):  
Popular Culture ◽  
Soft Power ◽  
Global Studies ◽  
Global Media ◽  
Global Order ◽  
Republic Of China ◽  
Hard Power ◽  
The World ◽  
Confucius Institutes ◽  
Chinese Popular Culture

AbstractWhat has been dubbed “China’s rise” has been met with trepidation or outright fear. The increasing economic and political power of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) is often read as a harbinger of the West’s imminent decline, and as a threat to a Western dominated global order. To match its growing ‘hard’ power, leaders in China have outlined intentions to cultivate the country’s soft power, or its appeal and influence globally. These efforts too have been read in largely negative terms in a body of literature that has sprung up around Chinese soft power. Yet, these works tend to assume negative implications without being grounded in empirical research. The contributors to this issue were tasked with reconsidering China’s soft power in the light of research which attends to the ideas and practices of its mediums – mediums such as the expansion of China’s global media network, the opening of Confucius Institutes around the world, and the increasing presence of Chinese popular culture in global forums. This introduction, in particular, considers some of the lessons that considerations of Chinese soft power can learn from the field of global studies.

scholarly journals Identification of Nepal’s Soft Power

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
pp. 49-65
Author(s):  
Binod Khanda Timilsana
Keyword(s):  
Soft Power ◽  
Public Diplomacy ◽  
Process Model ◽  
Power Measurement ◽  
Power Indices ◽  
Political Values ◽  
Hard Power ◽  
Natural Beauty ◽  
The World ◽  
Foreign Policies

Soft power, according to Nye, is a particular power of attraction to a state based on the appeal of its culture, political values, and foreign policies (Nye Jr. 2004, p. 11, 2008, p. 96). In the changing paradigms of state powers from military strength, economic might, political power, technological competency to soft power endeavors, identification of own soft power is the process of measuring own strength. Hard power measures can be observed from out sides as well but soft power potentialities will not appear easily without systematic attempt to expose them in front of international actors. Hard power measurement is easy and more exact than soft power qualities. There are very limited academic attempts visible in identification of Nepal’s soft power. Great soft powers of the world are visible and measurable through soft power indices developed by different think tanks and research agencies. The soft power 30 and Global Soft Power Index are exemplary forums engaged in ranking states in terms of soft powers. Reputation, influence, political values, culture, foreign policies, enterprise, culture, digital, governance, engagements and education are the indicators of soft power. The newly explained taxonomy of soft power includes four subunits of soft power namely resources, instruments, receptions and outcomes. Buddhism is a powerful soft power resource of Nepal. Conflict resolution and peace process model of Nepal is another potential soft power. Culture, engagement in multilateral global and regional forum, natural beauty with the world is highest Mt. Everest, diasporic community of Nepal, social networks, public diplomacy and personal diplomacy are remarkable soft power properties of Nepal. Nonetheless, identification of Nepal’s soft power is in very preliminary phase.

scholarly journals GRANDE ESTRATÉGIA: POLÍTICA EXTERNA E DEFESA EM UM MUNDO EM TRANSFORMAÇÃO

2015 ◽  
Vol 4 (7) ◽  
Author(s):  
Celso Amorim
Keyword(s):  
Twentieth Century ◽  
Cold War ◽  
Soft Power ◽  
World Order ◽  
Defense Policy ◽  
Mixed Structure ◽  
Hard Power ◽  
The World ◽  
The Cold War ◽  
Brazilian Case

In the last years of the twentieth century, after the end of the Cold War, the world has evolved into a mixed structure, which preserves the characteristics of unipolarity at the same time that approaches to a multipolar world in some ways. In an international reality marked by its fluid nature, the emergence of new actors and the so-called "asymmetric threats" has not eliminated the former agents in the world order. And the conflict between the States has not disappeared from the horizon. In this context, diplomacy must have the permanent support of defense policy. Therefore, in the Brazilian case, the paper presents that the country should adopt a grand strategy that combines foreign policy and defense policy, in which soft power will be enhanced by hard power.

Japanese Soft Power in Indonesia on Anime Entitled Ufo Baby: Study of Popular Culture

IZUMI ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 328-337
Author(s):  
Risa Yuliani ◽  
R.M. Mulyadi ◽  
M. Adji
Keyword(s):  
Popular Culture ◽  
Soft Power ◽  
Research Method ◽  
Cultural Theory ◽  
Qualitative Approach ◽  
Japanese Culture ◽  
Cultural Elements ◽  
World Community ◽  
Interpretive Analysis ◽  
The World

Anime as Japanese popular culture has been successfully consumed by mass in many countries. It indicates that Japan's strategy to make anime one of its soft power has been successfully accepted by the world community. In Indonesia, since anime entered the television, the enthusiasm given by the community has been good and positive. Anime is liked by various circles, especially children, even today. Ufo Baby is one of the shows on RCTI, even though it's not as global as Doraemon, for example, but apart from an interesting storyline, this anime also incorporates many elements of Japanese culture. The aim of this study is to explain the soft power of Japan in Indonesia on anime entitled “Ufo Baby”. The research method uses a qualitative approach with interpretive analysis. The researched part is scenes from anime that contain cultural elements. The approach used is John Storey's cultural theory and Nye Joseph's theory of soft power. Data collection was conducted to examine the influence of Japanese culture on Indonesian society by using interview techniques. The results of this study reveal that in the Ufo Baby anime there are elements of soft power culture used by Japan. From the results of research, the culture shown in anime has an influence on Indonesian society marked by the community's participation in celebrating traditional Japanese festivals and the discovery of many typical Japanese goods sold in local shops.

EXTERNAL FACTORS OF GEOPOLITICAL PROCESSES IN THE SOUTH OF RUSSIA IN THE CONTEXT OF GLOBALIZATION AND REGIONALIZATION

2020 ◽  
pp. 5-22
Author(s):  
Igor Dobaev
Keyword(s):  
Russian Federation ◽  
Soft Power ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
The South ◽  
Hard Power ◽  
The World ◽  
Federal Districts ◽  
The Russian Federation ◽  
External Forces ◽  
North Ossetia

Russia is the largest country in the world, a civilization state, with its unique geopolitical code. To change this course, the identity of our country, to force it to wander in the wake of the geopolitical and foreign policy aspirations of other centers of power, a number of geopolitical projects based on “hard power”, “soft power” as well as “soft power” are being implemented in the Russian Federation and beyond its external borders. At the same time, due to the large-scale territory of Russia, the presence of its internal regions that are different in their characteristics, various projects are deployed by external forces in various directions. This article discusses the geopolitical projects of the main external forces projecting their influence on the South of Russia - the territories of the constituent entities of the Russian Federation that are part of the Southern and North Caucasian federal districts. There are eight republics there: Adygea, Daghestan, Ingushetia, Kabardino-Balkaria, Kalmykia, Karachay-Cherkessia, Crimea, North Ossetia-Alania and Chechnya, two territories - Krasnodar and Stavropol and three regions - Astrakhan, Volgograd and Rostov; in total 14 subjects of Russia.

CCTV's Global Outreach: Examining the Audiences of China's ‘New Voice’ on Africa

2014 ◽  
Vol 151 (1) ◽  
pp. 81-88 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lauren Gorfinkel ◽  
Sandy Joffe ◽  
Cobus Van Staden ◽  
Yu-Shan Wu
Keyword(s):  
Soft Power ◽  
Cross Cultural ◽  
Brand Awareness ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Chinese Government ◽  
Cultural Relations ◽  
Global Media ◽  
The World ◽  
Key Issues ◽  
China Central Television

This scoping article introduces key issues surrounding the globalisation of China Central Television (CCTV), focusing on its African operations, content and reception, specifically in Kenya and South Africa. At a time when the Chinese government is seeking to enhance positive perceptions of China and China–Africa relations, and its associated media outlets are seeking to compete with other major global players like CNN and the BBC, this article takes steps towards understanding the extent to which CCTV may be succeeding in these missions. Some of the challenges identified for CCTV-Africa in our small-scale pilot study include attempting to simultaneously target ‘African’, ‘Western’ and Chinese audience groups, which may detract from its ability to appeal to specific international audiences; competition from other international and local broadcasters who already have a strong spectator base; and a lack of accessibility, awareness and sustained interest in the channel. It calls for more in-depth research into global audiences' reception of CCTV-Africa, and CCTV more generally, in order to track CCTV's brand awareness and assess whether China's global media soft power activities actually have any leverage in enhancing cross-cultural relations and international audiences' perceptions of China in Africa and the world.

scholarly journals BUDAYA POPULER GAME POKEMON GO SEBAGAI SOFT DIPLOMACY JEPANG

IZUMI ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 1
Author(s):  
Chadijah Isfariani Iqbal
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Policy ◽  
Popular Culture ◽  
World War Ii ◽  
International Cooperation ◽  
Soft Power ◽  
Cultural Diplomacy ◽  
The Other ◽  
World War ◽  
The World ◽  
Pokémon Go

Pokemon Go is a smartphone game that blends the real and digital worlds, tasking players with exploring their neighborhoods to find creatures and treasure for in-game use. This research describes the ways Japan uses its soft power in international coorporation relations, particulary through Pokemon Go’s game. Based on Joseph S. Nye, Jr, the soft power defined as the ability of country to achieve its goal using cultural attraction rather than coercion and violence. After the World War II, Japan has tried to change its image as war crime through popular culture, such as anime, manga and cosplay. According to Nye, Japan has more potential resources in soft power compared to the other countries. This research is focus on Popular Culture of Pokemon Go’s Game as Japan’s Soft Diplomacy. Pokemon Go is one of  Japan’s cultural diplomacy activities and the other countries uses popular culture to strengthen the positive image of Japan in the international world. The development of popular culture as a soft power and soft diplomacy also a diplomacy tool of development that can be used by Japan in conducting foreign policy in relation to international cooperation.

scholarly journals Cases Where Soft Power is Being Ignored

2016 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 126
Author(s):  
Elira Luli
Keyword(s):  
Soft Power ◽  
Time Frame ◽  
Great Powers ◽  
Hard Power ◽  
The World ◽  
Common Goals ◽  
Dramatic Shift ◽  
Sensitive Issues ◽  
World Environment

Today, in times of globalization and anarchy regarding global security concerns and global order in general, one can expect a dramatic shift to soft power in approaching unresolved sensitive issues that have plagued and petrified the whole system of international relations. But since there is friction and lack of constructive communication between great powers global disorder will continue to disperse divergences, conflicts, exclusions, cultural-ideological biases and extremism around the world. The world environment reveals itself uncertain with a bunch of challenges ahead that require the utilization of soft power values and its potential to resolve some of these sensitive issues in a durable time frame. Although globalization tends to shrink the role of hard power in general because of the growing interdependence relation among states, one can still observe some cases where states base their actions solely on hard power or are still attached to its means and strategies. Conversely, other states seem unwilling to share and exchange values or attracts other actors or states by argument or persuasion in order to achieve common goals. This paper aims to analyze the role of soft power, namely the power to persuade and attract through its “values dimension”, its effectiveness to complement hard power and cases where its role has been ignored.

Limits of US soft power in the Arab world (2003–15)

2016 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 428-444
Author(s):  
Hosam Matar
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Middle East ◽  
Soft Power ◽  
Arab World ◽  
The United States ◽  
Hard Power ◽  
The World ◽  
Arab States

Soft power, according to Joseph Nye, in 2004, is ‘the ability to affect others through the co-optive means of framing the agenda, persuading, and eliciting positive attraction in order to obtain preferred outcomes’. The United States is applying many initiatives and policies of soft power in the Arab world. No other state holds as much widespread cultural attractiveness around the globe as much as the United States. Yet, America’s political and cultural popularity in the Middle East, including the Arab world, is still relatively low when compared with other regions of the world. In 2014, from the 10 states that were most unfavourable toward the United States, five were Arab states. Therefore, like hard power, soft power also has its own limits. This article focuses on the reasons and conditions that impose such constrictions and limits on US soft power in the Arab world.

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