Chinese Cultural Diplomacy towards Africa

Mariam Papachristou

doi:10.12681/hapscpbs.29502

Abstract

Within the international system, states focus on the realization of their national interests, evaluating their diplomacy, and regularly their cultural diplomacy. For instance, China exercises its cultural diplomacy, in order to promote its foreign policy’s goals. The present paper initially attempts to define the complex notion of cultural diplomacy, which is a multifactor way of promoting intercultural dialogue and augmenting states’ soft power. In particular, China’s cultural diplomacy was the most suitable case study since the Chinese state, following the Beijing’s Olympic Games, has been reintroduced in the international audience. Its reintroduction was achieved by practicing its cultural diplomacy successfully, mostly with Confucius Institutes’ function, while being dominant in the international financial system. In the case of China’s foreign policy towards Africa, Chinese cultural diplomacy was accompanied by financial diplomacy and led to a Sino-African rapprochement and to the creation of the Forum on China-Africa cooperation. It is vital though to consider if Chinese foreign policy towards the African continent is successful.

Highlights

Cultural diplomacy as an instrument of a state’s foreign policy that can take many forms and at the same time used to different audiences
China is a notable case of a state which exercises its cultural diplomacy multilaterally, having in the past few decades successfully attempted to reintroduce itself to the international audience
While Chinese foreign policy was transforming, cultural diplomacy and communication with international audiences were significant for the achievement of national interests

Summary

Introduction

Cultural diplomacy as an instrument of a state’s foreign policy that can take many forms and at the same time used to different audiences. These ideal cultural diplomacy’s characteristics make it hard to define this kind of diplomacy. China is a notable case of a state which exercises its cultural diplomacy multilaterally, having in the past few decades successfully attempted to reintroduce itself to the international audience. The Chinese state achieved to be one of the dominant states in the international system by evaluating its notable cultural past as well as its financial development. Adding to the financial sector, the Chinese state has orchestrated a promotion of its national culture and values and a Sino-African intercultural connection. Chinese presence in Africa could broadly be characterized as successful since its foreign policy’s acts are accompanied by a multilateral exercise of state’s cultural diplomacy

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Findings

Conclusions