Journal of Maobi

Linguistics, Education, Literature, and Culture

Vol. 01, No. 01, November 2023 I Page 204-209
https://jurnal.uns.ac.id/maobi
ISSN Online: 3032-1042 ISSN Print: 3032-1034

Confucius Institute: Soft Power and Cultural Diplomacy

Nadia Nurhusna1*; Zaskia Sakinah2

Faculty of Cultural Science, Universitas Sebelas Maret, Surakarta, Indonesia
E-mail: nadianurhusna_27@student.uns.ac.id; zskiaskinhm@student.uns.ac.id

Abstract
Today advances in technology and human intelligence have made many countries flock to
increase their soft power in the international arena. The Chinese government is no exception,
actively trying to increase soft power through various programs. One of these efforts can be seen
with the establishment of the Confucius Institute. China founded the Confucius Institute to
promote Chinese language and culture abroad. These efforts include spreading the Mandarin
language, holding cultural exhibitions, and collaborating academically with various countries. This
research aims to analyze the Confucius Institute's role in increasing China's soft power. This
research uses a qualitative approach by collecting and evaluating data through supporting
literature, including academic journal articles and investing news. The Confucius Institute
effectively increases the general public's understanding of China. However, there are concerns
that Confucius Institutes exist to influence the political views and foreign policies of host countries.
Overall, the Confucius Institute is essential to China’s cultural diplomacy efforts, but its approach
must maintain a balance between cultural promotion and sensitivity to host country contexts.
Keywords: Confucius Institute; Cultural Diplomacy; Golden Bridge; Indonesia-China; Soft
Power

Introduction
The global scene has witnessed China's development as a powerful actor in
international politics in recent decades. The Confucius Institutes are one of the
significant vehicles via which China wields soft power. These Institutes, established
worldwide, nominally promote the Chinese language and culture. Still, their underlying
political and diplomatic purposes have been the subject of considerable debate and
examination (Hubbert et al., 2014). This Article digs into the diverse world of Confucius
Institutes, shedding light on its significance as a tool for China's soft power diplomacy.
In doing so, this research seeks to examine their genuine character and impact on
international relations thoroughly.
The existence of this study is dependent on the requirement to fill gaps left by
earlier research. While various studies have examined China's soft power endeavors,
a detailed understanding of the objectives, strategies, and implications of Confucius
Institutes in the context of quiet power diplomacy still needs to be discovered (Hubbert
et al., 2014). This research attempts to provide valuable insights into the current body
of knowledge by critically examining the evolution and operation of these institutes and
enhancing the conversation around China's global influence. This Article examines the
specific aspects of Confucius Institutes through a comparative lens, laying the
groundwork for a more in-depth examination that goes below the surface, examining
the subtle interplay between culture, politics, and diplomacy in soft power.

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 What is meant by soft power is that soft power is tasteless but has a natural
effect. In a detailed description, soft power is defined as a concept in political science
and international relations that refers to the ability of a country or group to influence
and attract other countries through culture, values, policies and the attraction of a
positive image, not through military or economic violence (J. S. Nye, 2021). The
existence of soft power in a country is an ability to gently and persuasively influence
public opinion, gain support and advance national interests. This concept was first
introduced in 1990 by a political scientist named Joseph Nye. He differentiates
between "hard power", which refers to influence supported by military and economic
strength, and "soft power", which relies on cultural appeal and diplomacy. Examples
of soft power include popular culture, cultural diplomacy, cultural exchange programs,
and promoting political values and social systems. Governments and non-
governmental organizations often use soft power to build better relations with other
countries, promote national culture, or achieve diplomatic goals without direct conflict.
Soft power has become essential in modern diplomacy and plays a vital role in world
politics. Dr. Ramona Blanes's speech at the SBM ITB Summer Course Program,
International Virtual Course 2022, states that "soft power is power that involves
shaping other people's preferences through attraction. In other words, soft power is
the persuasive power of a country. Usually, soft power is related to intangible things,
such as culture or diplomacy. But now, soft power has developed to spread to real
things such as infrastructure".
The soft power possessed by China produces several vital advantages for China
in the context of its international relations and foreign strategy. One way to provide
many long-awaited opportunities is by investing in Confucius Institutes. The Confucius
Institute is an institution that has been programmed for Mandarin language teaching
activities, cultural diplomacy, and the promotion of Chinese culture (Ferdiansyah,
2019). With the existence of this Confucius Institute, China has succeeded in
improving its positive image worldwide. This is considered capable of overcoming
negative stereotypes and opening the door to better cooperation with other countries.
Apart from that, through the Confucius Institute, China can open a student exchange
program, which can increase the attractiveness of education there. This program is
undoubtedly interesting for international students to study in China; in the future, they
can become ambassadors of Chinese culture in their respective countries.

Research Methods
A qualitative research approach was used in this study to delve deeply into the subtle
dynamics of Confucius Institutes' soft power strategies. Qualitative methodologies
were employed to investigate the intricate features of cultural influence, perceptions,
and interpersonal interactions that characterize the Institute's work. The primary focus
of this research is to investigate the various facets of cultural influence excerted by
Confucius Institute and to analyze how these initiative shape perceptions and promote
understanding across cultures. Data for this research is gathered using secondary
data sources include journal articles, scholarly publication and reports. Gathering,
organizing, and evaluating qualitative data to determine its meaning through thematic
analysis to identify patterns and theme related to soft power strategies and cultural
influence. This study investigates the many facets of cultural influence and sheds light
on the Institute's role in molding views and promoting cross-cultural understanding.

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Results and Discussion
History of Confucius Institute
Confucius Institute is a global educational initiative established in 2004 in Seoul, South
Korea, by the Chinese government to promote the Chinese language and culture
worldwide. It is named after Confucius, the ancient Chinese philosopher whose
teachings have profoundly influenced Chinese culture and thought. Namely konfusius
or 孔子 (kǒng zi). This marked the beginning of an ambitious plan to set up similar
institutions in countries across the globe (Hartati, 2016).
The primary mission of the Confucius Institute is to teach Chinese language
and culture and facilitate cultural exchanges between China and other countries. It
seeks to enhance mutual understanding and cooperation. Confucius Institutes offer
Chinese language courses, cultural events, and various activities related to Chinese
art, history, and traditions. They aim to make Chinese language learning more
accessible to people worldwide.
The history of the Confucius Institute reflects China's desire to expand its soft
power and promote its language and culture on the global stage. It has been praised
for its role in cultural exchange and criticized for its perceived political influence. Its
evolution continues to be a topic of interest in international education and diplomacy.

Figure 1. Confucius Institute of Hanban, 2018

Source: China University of Petroleum

Development of Confucius Institute

The Spread of Confucius Institutes
The Confucius Institute is an education-based institution that, in its implementation, is
not the centre of world attention. However, in fact, in a relatively short time, China
made the Confucius Institute a rapidly developing educational institution. This
development was marked by the spread of Confucius Institutes in various countries
worldwide.
Previously thought to be in vain, the investment invested in the Confucius
Institute produced commensurate results. The Confucius Institute can become an
institution that improves China's image in the eyes of the world. China is no longer a
country that can be underestimated because apart from the economy, China has
advantages in various aspects, including education and culture (Sun, 2023).

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 Since its founding in 2004, Confucius has spread to various countries and
continents, such as North America, Europe, Asia, Africa, and Australia, with the most
extensive distribution area being the Asian continent.
Based on information from Hanban (Office of Chinese Language Council
International), the body that oversees the Confucius Institute program, as of 2021,
there are more than 500 Confucius Institutes and more than 1,000 Confucius
Classrooms worldwide. Additionally, Confucius Institutes are spread across many
countries around the world. Until now, the number of Confucius Institutes has
continued to increase and spread to various corners of the world.

Achievements of the Confucius Institute

Behind its rapid and significant development, the Confucius Institute has achieved
various goals previously designed to achieve what it wanted and aspired to. Following
are some of the achievements of the Confucius Institutes:
1. Making Mandarin the Second International Language after English, The
Confucius Institute has contributed significantly to the spread of Mandarin
worldwide. They provide structured and accessible Mandarin learning
programs for foreigners at various ability levels. So, in its implementation, many
people are interested in learning Mandarin. This makes Mandarin increasingly
well-known around the world.
2. Increasing Understanding of Chinese Culture, Through various cultural
programs, such as art exhibitions, traditional performances, and lessons on
Chinese history and culture, Confucius Institutes has helped people worldwide
understand and appreciate the richness of Chinese culture.
3. Building Academic Partnerships, This program facilitates student and
teacher exchanges between China and other countries. This creates valuable
opportunities for people to learn and teach in different cultural environments.
This collaboration enables collaboration on research and academic projects
that enrich intercultural understanding. It also supports scientific exchanges
between China and other countries through conferences, seminars and
research collaborations.
4. Making the Confucius Institute a means of Cultural Diplomacy, The
Chinese government also uses Confucius Institutes as a means of cultural
diplomacy to help improve relations and understanding with other countries,
create good cooperation and maintain friendship between nations.

Confucius Institute as Soft Power of China’s

The CI provided a perfect platform for Chinese leaders to help other countries better
understand China. Beijing announced its ambitions in 2002 to create CIs worldwide to
promote culture and language. Chinese researchers have studied Joseph Nye's idea
of soft power since the late 1990s. They proposed that the government create a
culturally weak power strategy. Several causes have contributed to this shift:
1. China's economic progress has strengthened its global standing influence.
2. Chinese intellectuals believe that the United States' cultural hegemony has
decreased, and China may replace it.
3. China's cultural relations with its neighbors must be strengthened to fulfill its
interests.
The CI project reflected China's awareness of language education and cultural
diffusion as critical components of creating cultural soft power. There are three
possible explanations. The first step is to strengthen China's cohesion, with Beijing

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portraying CI expansion as a sign of economic prosperity and the worldwide impact of
China. Chinese people can be proud of their heritage. Chinese have a long history,
hence strengthening national unity. The second step is to broaden Chinese influence,
implying that the CIs have become an official platform for promoting China. CIs assist
Chinese higher education in gaining acknowledgement for the quality of its offering in
the global market for educational services. The third goal is to reduce China's danger
because CI takes part in softening China's global branding (X. Liu, 2019).
The first strategy is to broaden Chinese culture. Through CIs, the government
identified strategies for increasing the influence of Chinese culture. During the 11th
Five-Year Plan, the State Council adopted the Outline of the National Plan for Cultural
Development in 2006. The strategy created a "go-out" strategy to increase the
international reach of cultural products.
The second method entails fostering possibilities for Chinese higher education.
Higher education is a conduit for cultural soft power, and it has been a vital chance for
China to raise the prestige of its universities to recruit international elites.
China is using soft power diplomacy to improve regional bilateral ties by
emphasizing the religious, cultural, linguistic, and culinary aspects of its relationships.
CIs have effectively expanded and been welcomed as a tool of soft power projection.

Confucius Institute and its Challenges

Although Confucius Institutes have many branches worldwide, some countries and
educational institutions have decided to close or restrict the institutes' activities for
various reasons, including concerns related to political interference and academic
freedom issues.
Hanban, the Chinese government agency pioneered CIs, rebranded itself the
Ministry of Education Center for Language Education and Cooperation (CLEC) in July
2020 as part of a rebranding campaign to address unfavorable views (Hartig, 2018).

Conclusion
The Confucius Institute is the most valuable investment in China with actual results.
The strategies and programs designed in such a way in the implementation of the
Confucius Institute have significantly impacted the world. The Confucius Institute's
existence is essential because its function is like a golden bridge between China and
other countries. Soft power can be cultivated not merely as a diplomatic tool but as a
suistainable form of cultural influence. Thus, chinese cultural diplomacy can enter
smoothly and be accepted by the people of other countries with the Confucius Institute.
The Confucius Institute is a producer of soft power for China. In its development, it will
increasingly open up vast avenues for China to explore the world with the gentle power
it has. This study suggests developing initiatives with a more localized approach could
enhance the impact on local communities and to refute misconceptions of Confucius
Institute’s missions.

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