This volume brings together scholars from different disciplines and nations to examine and assess the effectiveness of China's soft power initiatives in Africa. It throws light not only on China's engagement with Africa but also on how China's increasing influence is received in the African media.

Introduction -- A world of shared influence / Xiaoling Zhang -- Theoretical, historical, and global. Reflections of a soft power agnostic / Gary D. Rawnsley -- The scramble for Asian soft power in Africa / Daya Kishan Thussu -- Evolving media interactions between China and Africa / Ran Jijun -- China's promotion. How much "soft power" does China have in Africa? / Helge Rønning -- Why are Chinese media in Africa? evidence from three decades of Xinhua's news coverage of Africa / Dani Madrid-Morales -- Constructive journalism: a new journalistic paradigm of Chinese media in Africa / Zhang Yanqiu and Simon Matingwina -- Chinese perception of soft power: the role of the media in shaping Chinese views and discourses of foreign aid to Africa / May Tan-Mullins -- Perceptions in Africa. Journalists and public perceptions of the politics of China's soft power in Kenya under the "look East" foreign policy / Jacinta Mwende Maweu -- Building blocks and themes in Chinese soft power towards Africa / Bob Wekesa -- Positive portrayal of Sino-African relations in the Ethiopian press / Terje Skjerdal and Fufa Gusu -- Engaging with China's soft power in Zimbabwe: Harare citizens' perception of China-Zimbabwe relations / Winston Mano -- China's soft power in Sudan: increasing activity but how effective? / Daniel Johanson -- Conclusion. Chinese soft power in Africa: findings, perspectives, and more questions / Herman Wasserman

This book examines the Chinese Communist Party’s attempts to improve China’s image around the world, thereby increasing its "soft power." This soft, attractive form of power is crucial if China is to avoid provoking an international backlash against its growing military and economic might. The volume focuses on the period since Xi Jinping came to power in 2012, and is global in scope, examining the impact of Chinese policies from Hong Kong and Taiwan to Africa and South America. The book explains debates over soft power within China and delves into case studies of important policy areas for China’s global image campaign, such as film, news media and the Confucius Institutes. The most comprehensive work of its kind, the volume presents a picture of a Chinese leadership that has access to vast material resources and growing global influence but often struggles to convert these resources into genuine international affection. With a foreword by Joseph Nye, Soft Power With Chinese Characteristics will be invaluable to students and scholars of Chinese politics and Chinese media, as well as international relations and world politics more generally.

This book is about how China strives to rebuild its soft power through communication. It recounts China's efforts by examining a set of public diplomacy tactics and programs in its pursuit of a 'new' and 'improved' global image. These case studies invites the reader to a more expansive discussion on the instruments of soft power.

Cover -- Title -- Copyright -- Contents -- List of figures -- List of tables -- Acknowledgements -- List of contributors -- Introduction and context -- 1 Introduction: images, nation branding and news framing -- 2 Beyond the drama: Sino-African ties in perspective -- Part 1 Building images through cultural cooperation and diplomacy -- Section A: Historical contexts -- 3 Revolutionary friendship: representing Africa during the Mao Era -- 4 Giving 'prominence to politics': African sportsmen visit China in the early Cultural Revolution -- Section B: Contemporary relations -- 5 Twenty-first century Sino-African cultural cooperation: exploring reciprocity -- 6 Confucius Institutes in Africa: culture and language without controversy? -- 7 China corner: Chinese book donations to Africa -- 8 China's digital public diplomacy towards Africa: actors, messages and audiences -- Part 2 Building images through media representation and communication -- 9 Chinese media and diplomacy in Africa: theoretical pathways -- 10 Newspaper coverage of China's engagement with Nigeria: partner or predator? -- 11 Media construction of African image(s) for the Chinese media public -- 12 Chinese developmentalism and television representation of South Africa -- 13 The Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) activities of Huawei and ZTE in Africa -- 14 The effectiveness of Chinese technical assistance and knowledge transfer in East Africa from the perspective of medium-of-instruction -- Index

This book examines the phenomenal growth over recent years of StarTimes, a Chinese pay-TV company with around 30 million subscribers providing satellite television to 20 African countries. The broadcaster, whose markets include demographic groups deemed uneconomic by Western television providers, combines entertainment such as Chinese drama and Kung Fu content dubbed into African languages with Chinese state programming, thus making the station at least partially a public diplomacy instrument. At the same time, the channel provides new indigenous language channels, widened access to television in rural areas, and sponsors African soccer brands. The book considers all aspects of StarTimes: how it fits into China’s development assistance programmes; its structure as a private company nonetheless financed by Chinese banks; and, based on extensive interview research in Ghana, Kenya and Zambia, how the station is perceived by media professionals. Overall, the book shows how this major Chinese international media expansion both contributes very significantly to African development in a way which is sensitive to local concerns, and at the same time enhances China’s international image.

Soft power has become a very popular concept in international affairs, appearing in government policy papers, academic discussions, and the popular media. In China, soft power has become one of the most frequently used phrases among political leaders, leading academics, and journalists. Defined against hard power, which often involves threat and coercion, soft power applies attraction, persuasion, and cooperation, finding its sources in culture, political values, and foreign policies. China, rich in culture and traditional philosophy, boasts abundant sources of soft power. Soft Power attempts to analyze the domestic and international views of China's soft power, the main strengths and weaknesses of China's soft power, and the application of soft power in China's international politics. It provides a comprehensive exploration of the soft power dimension in China's foreign relations by integrating views from various disciplines, such as history, education, culture, political economy, comparative politics, and philosophy. The book argues that soft power has become a very popular concept in China, that China is contemplating and exploring an innovative strategy in its rise and international politics, and that there have been quite a few notable elements of this in China's diplomatic practice, including softer rhetoric, promotion of the Chinese culture abroad, economic diplomacy, and image building. The book also argues that the limitations of China's soft power primarily stem from political values and China's own transitions, and reflects the reality that views and opinions regarding China's soft power are fairly diverse both in China and in the international arena.

As part of its ‘going out’ strategy, China is using the media to promote its views and vision to the wider world and to counter negative images in the US-dominated international media. China’s Media Go Global, the first edited collection on this subject, evaluates how the unprecedented expansion of Chinese media and communications is changing the global media landscape and the role of China within it. Each chapter examines a different dimension of Chinese media’s globalization, from newspapers, radio, film and television, to social media and journalism. Topics include the rise of Chinese news networks, China Daily as an instrument of China’s public diplomacy and the discussion around the growth of China’s state media in Africa. Other chapters discuss entertainment television, financial media and the advertising market in China. Together, this collection of essays offers a comprehensive evaluation of complex debates concerning the impact of China on the international media landscape, and makes a distinctive addition to Chinese media studies, as well as to broader global media discourses. Beyond its primary readership among academics and students, China’s Media Go Global is aimed at the growing constituency of general readers, for whom the role of the media in globalization is of wider interest.

Academic Paper from the year 2020 in the subject Business economics - Economic Policy, University of Bradford, course: contemporary security studies, language: English, abstract: This paper discusses the growing influence of China in North Afrcia. China has developed a profoundly entrenched stance as both a diplomatic partner and a rising investor in Africa. The interests of the Chinese in the continent covers not only natural resources but also pressing matters of trade, security, combating terrorism, and soft power which entails Confucius institutes and people to people exchanges. Chinese aid practices to Africa which encompasses Chinese medical fleet has been blown out of proportion by Western media to influence Africa to take caution and shield itself from China. The expression "soft power" has turned into a political theory for types of impact that are not "hard" in the sense of military power. As indicated by Joseph Nye's unique definition, a nation's hard power depends on intimidation, to a great extent a component of its military or monetary might. "Soft power", conversely, depends on fascination, emerging from the positive intrigue of a nation's way of life, political goals, and strategies just as a dynamic, free affable society.

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.