Soft Power Strategy Of China

Abstract

The power of state at present is not solely based on the military, political and economic potential. A new factor “soft power” has become an important aspect of influence for states in the globalized, interactive and interdependent state of international system. After Professor Joseph Nye coined the term Soft Power, there has been an increased focus on the cultivation and proliferation of soft power by governments around the world. Over the past few years, China has also taken great measures to strengthen its soft power capabilities. Nye equates power of attraction in international relations with the values of the country as expresses by a country in its culture, its internal and external principles, policies and relations. However, the Chinese soft power seems to be incorporating the economic and development aspects along with the framework of Nye to meet its objectives. The thesis explores the limits of the concept of soft power by critically examining the reconceptualization of soft power in contemporary China. It seeks to highlight the uniqueness in the Chinese interpretation of soft power compared to the original Western approach. The Chinese soft power is seen as a great opportunity to increase the country’s efficiency in attaining its foreign policy goals, improve its international image and overall performance in the global arena. The vast scholarship on Chinese soft power continue to criticize the resources and understanding of soft power with Chinese characteristics. However, it is important to remember that the concept of soft power in itself is vague. Thus, we cannot say with certainty whether or not China’s soft power has succeeded based on the western approach. Although it is true that China still has a long way to go to further increase its appeal around the world especially the West. We also cannot measure the Chinese perspective only with the Western yardstick.