Mind Games: Us Soft Power In The Age Of Chinese Nationalism

In recent years, numerous articles and books have discussed the phenomenon of rising Chinese nationalism. As evidence of this rising nationalism, researchers point to anti-US protests in 1999 and 2001, anti-Japanese protests in 2005, and the more recent anti-French protests in 2008. This analysis reveals two distinct strains, one negative, focusing on past grievances, and one positive, focusing on the culture and success of China.At the same time, other researchers are looking closely at United States soft power, analyzing the apparent decline in US soft power and the rise of anti-American sentiment around the world, not just in China. These two fields of study overlap when analyzing the role of US soft power in shaping the opinions and attitudes of the Chinese, specifically the youth, who are at the forefront of the Chinese nationalist movement.This thesis surveys Chinese university students to determine the elements of US soft power to which they have the most exposure. It also surveys their attitudes towards the United States, American people, and various US government polices, to determine if Chinese nationalism has created any lasting anti-American sentiment. The research then correlates these two aspects of the survey to determine if US soft power influences significantly impact the attitudes of the university students.The research concludes that US soft power, especially indirect influences, has a significant impact on the views of university students. Those with more exposure to Americans have the most positive views about the United States. Furthermore, while nationalist sentiment might exist, it is not anti-American in nature.