Page 2 of 2 The language of Chinese soft
power in the US By Will Wachter
within the Chinese populace,
encouraged in no small part by a recent
best-selling book adapting Confucius' The
Analects for the modern Chinese citizen.
In presenting Confucius as the vanguard of
China's influence in the rest of the world, China
wants others to "look to the history and the glory
of the past in order to encourage more acceptance
of contemporary China", said Gilbert Rozman, a
professor of
sociology at Princeton
University.
Rozman added, "A rising power
is likely to increasingly think of ways in which
soft power can serve national interests." He
continued, "There is no reason to be opposed in
principle. Cultural diffusion raises their
standing, and the spread of language teaching is
generally a positive influence." The use of such
cultural institutions is nothing new - France's
Alliance Francaise and Germany's Goethe Institutes
have existed for centuries.
However,
cultural institutes like Alliance Francaise have
historically been independent; most Confucius
Institutes have been set up in partnership with
existing universities or educational systems.
Robert Davis, director of the Confucius Institute
for the Chicago Public School system, is quick to
allay any fears of direct influence.
"There's no agenda," Davis said, adding
that his interactions with the Hanban have
revealed it to be "among the most modern,
forward-thinking group of people in China". He
added that Confucius Institutes have total
autonomy in their course materials and teachers.
While classes are growing slowly in
Maryland, in Chicago, supply can barely match
demand. Davis says that in 1999, only three
schools in the Chicago area taught Chinese. The
number is now 28.
"In fact, China is a
little late to the game," Davis said. The Chicago
initiative for Chinese-language instruction has
only recently been complemented by a Confucius
Institute, which joined ongoing efforts last year.
"It's a very natural and organic
partnership," commented Davis regarding his
relationship with the Hanban. "You can't always
rely on politicians to bring cultures closer
together," he added, although he mentioned Chicago
Mayor Richard M Daley's dedication to building a
strong relationship with China.
The
Confucius Institute of New York has already
implemented a program to help train Chinese
teachers in language instruction, with the hope of
allowing a greater portion of the New York
community access to Chinese-language teaching.
Meanwhile, the wide array of services
offered by the scattered Confucius Institutes -
teacher training, adult language training,
administration of the Hanyu Shuiping Kaoshi
(Chinese-language Proficiency Test), cultural
exchanges and exhibits - indicates that even if
their means are far from uniform, the Confucius
Institutes want to allow Chinese culture to play
an increasingly important role in the lives of
ordinary US citizens.
Increased US
interest in Mandarin has led to the creation of a
Chinese Language and Culture AP (Advanced
Placement) Exam, raising Mandarin to the level of
such stalwarts as French, Spanish and Italian.
Last month, the Maryland Confucius Institute held
an exhibit devoted to Confucius as well as a
calligraphy demonstration, both of which were well
attended.
While the attraction of Mandarin
has certainly played a large factor in the
propagation of Confucius Institutes, its
effectiveness as a form of soft power is still
largely in question.
Perry Link, professor
of East Asian Studies at Princeton University,
said, "The Chinese language belongs to all
people." He said he also feels there is a
fundamental contradiction in the way China's
government has used Confucius to represent its
culture abroad, while using it to justify
authoritarianism at home. Moreover, he believes
that recent scandals in the US regarding pet food
and other tainted products manufactured in China
generate publicity that negates the country's
projected image as a benevolent rising power.
According to Link, the Chinese Communist
Party holds a deeply rooted belief in the unity of
national identity, correct language, and correct
society. However, he said, "It is naive to think
that teaching language will ultimately [garner]
support."
The future of China's soft-power
initiative is unknown, except to hear people
stumbling through Mandarin in more and more
places. Thus far, 105 Confucius Institutes have
opened in more than 40 countries, and China has no
plans of stopping, as the government has attached
great importance to the operation of these
institutes overseas.
During an inspection
of the Hanban late last month, Li Changchun, one
of the nine members of the Standing Committee of
the Politburo in charge of ideology and
propaganda, stressed that the construction of
Confucius Institutes "is an important channel to
glorify Chinese culture, to help Chinese culture
spread to the world", which is "part of China's
foreign propaganda strategy".
Will
Wachter is an American freelance writer.
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