In recent years, the PRC leadership has made much about gaining “soft power” in the world. Generally, this means raising the profile of “Chinese culture” – often defined in terms of indigenous Chinese practices and beliefs distinct from “Western culture”. The PRC strategy is both positive (promoting Chinese culture) and negative (maintaining a running critique of “Western” culture). One prominent element of the positive project is the construction of Confucius Institutes in many countries, geared especially to Chinese language instruction. But how effective are these efforts? Current research suggests that soft power will have different effects in different parts of the world. With that in mind, this talk will consider only one country: the US.
On the face of it, PRC soft power is not catching on in the US. Beyond the controversy surrounding Confucius Institutes in America (most notably the closing of CIs at the University of Chicago and Penn State), other aspects of Chinese popular culture (movies, music, TV shows, sports etc.) have very little impact. Certain traditional Chinese ideas and practices (TCM, feng shui) have some presence but do not seem to be expanding. The question, then, is: Why? How do we explain the PRC’s soft power disconnect in the US?
Sam Crane, Professor of Political Science at Williams College, tackles these questions in the inaugural lecture of the Sino-American Talks Series.
Join us for this fascinating lecture and discussion!
Date: Saturday, July 18
Time: 2:00 – 4:00 p.m.
Admission: 50 RMB (40 RMB for members)
As seats are limited, please register for this talk using the button below
Sam Crane is a professor of political science at Williams College in Massachusetts, where he teaches courses on Chinese politics, East Asian international relations, and ancient Chinese philosophy. His most recent book – Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Dao: Ancient Chinese Thought in Modern American Life (Wiley, 2013) – uses insights from pre-Qin Confucian and Daoist texts to reflect upon contemporary US social and ethical issues, such as: abortion, gay marriage, and end of life issues. He is also the intellectual force behind the popular Chinese philosophy website Useless Tree, on which Sam provides commentary and analysis on ancient Chinese thought and contemporary events.
Sino-American Talks hosts live events in Beijing, featuring speakers and panelists from both China and the USA, focusing on a wide range of topics that relate to the two countries and their relationship. Sino-American Talks is dedicated to improving the understanding between Chinese and American society. Our aim is to use small presentations and discussions in Beijing to strengthen mutual understanding and respect between Chinese and Americans while reducing false assumptions. Americans need a greater understanding of the Chinese perspective on Sino-American issues, and Chinese need a greater understanding of the American perspective.
