"Soft power" concept in the Chinese context: a case study

Download
2010
Aslan, Murat
This thesis examines the applicability of the concept of soft power in the Chinese context. After a brief discussion of the concept of "soft power", which was coined by Joseph S. Nye Jr. in 1990, and also similar concepts developed in western academia, the Chinese understanding of soft power is investigated with reference to statements made by Chinese policy-makers and academics, Chinese soft power applications in Africa and the use of the Confucius Institutes as soft power tools. It is argued that although China pursues non-coercive policies to augment its power in the international arena, this power is not solely attained by the methods of soft power as suggested by Nye. Although the concept of "sticky power", coined by Walter Russel Mead, and/or that of "smart power", intorduced by Nye and Richard Armitage, can be beneficial in understanding the Chinese experience, the Chinese goal-oriented and empiric approach to attaining power differs in essence from the western understanding both in theory and practice.

Suggestions

The new NATO: a stronghold at the dawn of a multipolar world
Mayda, Oğuz; Bağcı, Hüseyin; Department of International Relations (2009)
This thesis analyzes the factors and conduct of the transformation of NATO and its likely effects on the globe. The implications of politics of the US, the EU on global security as well as enlarged threat perception will be investigated as the three main drivers of NATO transformation. The way transformation carried out will be synthesized into political and military areas. Political transformation here will be studied under three fold categorization of functional, geographical and institutional areas. The ...
Political economy of China's peaceful rise: the return of the dragon?
Dikmen, Neslihan; Tayfur, Mehmet Fatih; Department of International Relations (2008)
This research aims to analyze the international political economy of rising China since the mid 1990s. The main question it tries to answer; why in the early 21st century, Chinese officials defined China’s position within the international system as Peaceful Rise in theory, in rhetoric and in policy. The research studies the question based on analysis of international political economy of China’s reform process within a historical perspective. Given China’s history-long ‘‘catching up with the West’’ as the ...
The role of the global media in world politics : a case of Iraq War of 2003
Aşkın, Berrin; Bağcı, Hüseyin; Department of International Relations (2006)
This thesis analyzes the role of the global media in world politics. The global media as a major source of information performs many functions in world politics. Due to the technological innovations both the global media and world politics has extended their scope and content. It is the aim of this thesis to explore to what extent the global media and world politics changes and to what extent the global media affect world politics. Moreover, this thesis aims to analyze the actors that play a significant rol...
Impact of the xinjiang problem on the China's external relations: 1990-2010
Atay, Fatma Özge; Tanrısever, Oktay Fırat; Department of Eurasian Studies (2010)
This thesis analyses tha impact of the Xinjiang Problem on the foreign policy of China. Because of its strategic location and natural resources, Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region has great importance for China. this thesis argues that Chinese foreign policy towards Central Asian region has been shaped by security considerations of China related to the Xinjiang Problem. the Xinjiang Problem shapes China's foreign relaitons wşth Central Asian States, Russia, the U.S. and Turkey becouse this problem has became...
The common foreign and security policy : the European Union's quest for being a coherent and effective actor in global politics
Kaya, Taylan Özgür; Bağcı, Hüseyin; Department of International Relations (2004)
The objective of this thesis is to evaluate European States̕ efforts to develop a coherent and effective foreign and security policy in the context of historical evolution of the CFSP. In this thesis, European States̕ efforts to develop a coherent and effective foreign and security policy will be evaluated in three international political contexts. First period is Post World War II Period, second one is Post-Cold War Period and third one is Post September 11 Period. In the context of Post World War II perio...
Citation Formats
M. Aslan, ““Soft power” concept in the Chinese context: a case study,” M.S. - Master of Science, Middle East Technical University, 2010.