Soft power and the rise of China: An assessment of China's soft power in its modernization process

This research focuses on two closely related subjects: the theoretical discussion of soft power and its assessment, and an assessment of China's soft power in its modernization process. First, I explored Nye's theory of soft power by examining this concept from three traditional approaches to the analysis of national power---state attributes, relations among states, and the structure of the international system. After reviewing two traditional power assessment models---structuralist model and behaviorist model, I developed a specific power conversion model, which explains how soft power works at three levels---foreign country's political elites, interest groups, and the general public. I also discussed the relationship between hard power and soft power.; In the beginning of assessing China's soft power, I discussed Chinese views of soft power, self-perception and global strategy as it pertains to the rise of China. My case study provided an analysis of the status of China's soft power in its modernization process by employing both a structuralist model and a behaviorist model. The structuralist model included three key components of soft power resources---cultural attractiveness, political values and domestic policies, and the substance and style of foreign policy. The behaviorist model focused on the impacts of China's soft power developments on its efforts of national image building and China's ability of wielding soft power.; Based on my research, I found that China has achieved impressive gains in its overall level of soft power. Its successful development model has won global admiration while aiding in the development of a new affinity between China and the rest of Asia. Its 'new diplomacy' has led to China's more active and responsible participation in international affairs, which is increasing China's agenda setting abilities and improving its national image. However, further expansion of China's soft power is constrained by its domestic political institutions and the international system of which it is a part. China's selective development of soft power is also responsible for its rampant corruption' and rapidly growing social-economic inequality. More importantly, the rise of China is occurring at a time when the international system is undergoing a structural transformation, which inevitably complicates China's efforts to project its soft power. I concluded that China would have a long way to go before it possessed the level of soft power needed to make it a true global leader.