Description: This Element presents an overarching analysis of Chinese visions and practices of soft power. Maria Repnikova's analysis introduces the Chinese theorization of the idea of soft power, as well as its practical implementation across global contexts. The key channels or mechanisms of China's soft power examined include Confucius Institutes, international communication, education and training exchanges, and public diplomacy spectacles. The discussion concludes with suggestions for new directions for the field, drawing on the author's research on Chinese soft power in Africa.
Review Quotes: 'A well-designed book that familiarises readers with the official and scholarly discussions of soft power in Chinese political and academic circles, as well as the operational features, aims and reflections regarding the outcomes of its main soft power tools. The book makes a unique contribution to debates on soft power diplomacy by explaining the nuances in the Chinese understanding of soft power and extending it to contemporary examples in the Xi Jinping era.' Ibrahim Murat Kara, The Hague Journal of Diplomacy