Confucius Institutes

1
Confucius Institute

• Chinas Foreign Policy of Soft Power
• By Sean-Patrick Pitchford

2
My Interest

• How do Confucius Institutes contribute to Chinas
  growth?
• What are the goals of the institutes?
• What services do they offer students?
• How effective are they?
• I personally enjoy philosophy which is what
  prompted me to pick the Confucius Institute.
• I found that it actually aims to offer much more
  than background of Confucianism.

3
Confucius Institutes are Global!
4
Brief History

• Began in 2004.
• First Institute opened in Seoul, South Korea.
• (Nov. 21)
• First research-based CI opened in Japan.
• Currently 440 Confucius Institutes in 120
  countries.
• The image to the right shows how CI are
  established.

5
Current Involvement

• Aims to establish 1,000 Confucius Institutes by
  2020.
• Attract 500,000 foreign students by 2020.
• Medium and Long-Term Education Reform.
  (moe.edu.cn, 2010)
• Expanding international cooperation, and
  higher-education exchanges.
• (Jia, 2010)

• Bilateral educational cooperation programs.
• Foreign powers are devoting more student visas
  for studies in China.

6
International and Regional Influence

• International
• Confucius Institutes are located in Universities
  on six continents.
• Increases dissemination of Chinese language and
  culture.
• Encourages foreign interest in China as a growing
  society and economy.
• Regional
• Promotes ties with ASEAN and other Asia Pacific
  nations.
• Improves the open exchange of education within
  the region.
• Both
• Increases influence both Internationally and
  Regionally. (Singh, 2011)

7
The Sentiments of the People

• Domestic
• Generally support method of exerting soft
  power.
• Encouraging of the propagation of Chinese culture
  and language.
• Backlash for Fulan Gong restriction on hiring.
• (NTDTV, 2012)
• Foreign
• Skepticism
• US State Department has reviewed Confucius
  Institutes credentials. (Basu, 2012)
• McMaster University closed CI for discrimination.
• Interest and Acceptance
• The number of foreign participants has increased
  yearly.
• Students increased by 130,000 from 2008 to 2009.

8
What the Future Holds

• According to the National Outline for the Medium
  and Long-Term Education Reform and Development
  these are the future goals of the Confucius
  Institutes
• By 2020 the Ministry of Education has plans to
  attract 500,000 foreign students.
• Reach 1,000 CIs worldwide.
• (Jia, 2010)
• Increase in first-rate teachers at these
  Confucius Institutes

9
Soft Powers Role in Securing Global Power

• In my researched opinion, I believe Confucius
  Institutes will play an intricate role in
  establishing China at the top of world powers by
  2020. Where most countries are currently looking
  to limit their student visas, China has all the
  incentive to provide more opportunities. The rate
  and quality at which the Chinese economy is
  continuing to grow, will only drive up the demand
  for highly skilled and linguistically talented
  individuals. This is why the Ministry of
  Education is seeking to have 500,000 students by
  2020. (Jia, 2010) The fact stands, that other
  countries are taking notice of the substantial
  impact Confucius Institutes have. The effective
  diffusion of Mandarin, and the uniqueness of
  Chinese culture, worries some nations state
  departments. (Basu, 2012) Ultimately, the end
  conclusion is that this extension of soft
  powers is a highly effective method of foreign
  policy. It is a strategy of winning foreign
  hearts and minds without any forceful coxing. The
  Office of Chinese Language Council International
  or Hanban has undoubtedly embarked on a
  successful campaign of cooperating with foreign
  academic institution to entice scholars across
  the world. (Ved, 2012)

10
My Conclusions

• The Enjoyment
• Compare and Contrasting CIs with other countries
  soft power programs. (i.e. British Council)
• Researching a foreign policy that truly promotes
  diplomacy through promoting appreciation of
  culture.
• Learning about how a better understanding of
  Chinese culture and business can result in better
  abroad experiences.

• My Surprises
• It actually has very little to do with
  Confucianism.
• They use Confuciuss name to heighten
  recognition.
• Confucius Institutes are little external
  extensions of the government.
• They often work under only the Chinese
  governments scrutiny.
• Universities have no ability to administer
  academic review.
• The amount of backlash and resistance against
  CIs.

11
Bibliography (Sources)

• Books
• Hoare-Vance, S. J. (2010). Confucius Institutes
  and Chinas Evolving Foreign Policy. Saarbrucken,
  Germany LAP Lambert Academic Publishing.
•  
• Peer-Reviewed Articles
• Cho, Y. N., Jeong, J. H. (2008). Chinas Soft
  Power Discussions, Resources, and Prospects.
  Asian Survey, 48(3), 453-472. Retrieved from
• http//www.jstor.org/stable/10.1525/as.2008.48.3.
  453
•  
• Paradise, J. F. (2009). China and International
  Harmony The Role of Confucius Institutes in
  Bolstering Beijings Soft Power. Asian Survey,
  49(4), 647-669. Retrieved from
• http//www.jstor.org/stable/10.1525/as.2009.49.4.
  647
•  
• Starr, D. (2009). Chinese Language Education in
  Europe The Confucius Institutes. European
  Journal of Education, 44(1), 65-82. Retrieved
  from http//www.jstor.org/stable/25481891
• News Reports
• Ogoura, K. (2007, December 31). Chinas public
  diplomacy. The Japan Times. Retrieved from
  http//www.japantimes.co.jp/opinion/2007/12/31/co
  mmentary/chinas-public-diplomacy
•  
• Shasha, H. (2014, March 26). Confucius institute
  at UC Davis offers taste of Chinese culture.
  Peoples Daily. Retrieved from
• http//english.people.com.cn/90782/8579126.html
•  
• Ved, M. (2012, February 20) Conquering the world
  with soft power. New Straits Times. Retrieved
  from

12
Bibliography (cont.)

• Video
• NTDTV. (2012, December 21) Growing Pains for
  Controversial Confucius Institute
• Video File. Retrieved from http//www.youtube.co
  m/watch?vbrgx-WmjSz4
•  
• The University of Arizona. (2013, August 23)
  Confucius Institute to Host Second Annual Chinese
  Culture Festival Video File. Retrieved from
  http//www.youtube.com/watch?v4qLPQJs_GYM
•  
• TexSouthern. (2013, April 15) The Confucius
  Institute at Texas Southern University Video
  File. Retrieved from http//www.youtube.com/watch
  ?vhnaacQt-7rE
• Government Sources
• Jia, C. (2010, November 12). Class act promotes
  global soft power. Retrieved from
  http//www.moe.edu.cn/publicfiles/business/htmlfil
  es/moe/moe_2861/201011/111014.html
•  
• Shasha, D. (2012, April 21). Senior CPC official
  attends opening ceremony of Confucius institute
  in Canada. Retrieved from
• http//english.gov.cn/2012-04/21/content_2119091.h
  tm
•  
• Yang, F. (2012, April 14). First Confucius
  Institute in N. Ireland opens its doors.
  Retrieved from http//english.gov.cn/2012-04/14/co
  ntent_2113575.htm
•  
• Organization Sources
• Basu, N. (2012, July 31). Confucius Institutes in
  America Soft Power or Propaganda? Retrieved from
  http//www.ipcs.org/article/china/confucius-instit
  utes-in-america-soft-power-or-propaganda-3695.html
  
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