The Role of Soft Power in China's Struggle for Hegemony

Abstract

China’s political influence is growing in tandem with its economic and military might. The rise of China triggers significant changes in the regional and global order. As China’s material power increases, it poses a serious challenge to the global hegemony of the USA in almost every field. It is unclear whether China's advances in many kinds of power parameters will lead to a change in predominance. Although China has made significant progress in hard power, it has not shown the same success in soft power. This study focuses on the role of China's soft power in the struggle for global hegemony. The study aims to answer the question of how important soft power is in building hegemony. In the research, the effectiveness and limits of China's soft power are analyzed. The study argues that China's achievements in soft power are not enough for it to build a global hegemony. It is concluded that China's shortcomings in soft power are the biggest obstacle to the country's ability to build a regional and global order.