Chinese And European Soft Power:a Comparative Analysis

This dissertation examines comparatively the role of soft power in the international politics of the European Union and the People’s Republic of China. Since it has been introduced as a concept, soft power has had a big impact on international relations and has changed the approach of states in their foreign policies. This change is apparent in the foreign diplomacy of both China, which is promoting its economic growth as a peaceful development, and the E.U., that is quickly becoming recognized as a normative power. To understand the role soft power plays in the international relations of the two actors this dissertation analyzes their public diplomacy strategies, with focus on regions of the world: Latin America and the Caribbean, Africa, the Middle East, and Asia and the Pacific. The purpose of this research is to inform, describe, and compare significant similarities and differences in how the European Union and China wield their soft power resources, and to establish in which areas they were successful and where their soft power use failed. Also, at times, there might be situations in which working together will prove to be more prosperous for both sides. But will it be enough to also increase their power in the international game, beside the hard power focused US?My research begins by trying to establish the meaning of the concept of soft power. It goes on by explaining how states can wield soft power and what resources can be used to attract other states. Joseph Nye, the scholar who coined this concept, defines soft power as "the ability to get what you want through attraction rather than coercion or payments" and as the power that "arises from the attractiveness of a nation’s culture, political ideals, and policies." The importance of soft power has been underestimated in the past when hard power resources (use of military and economic might) were seen as the most efficient way for states to get what they wanted, because of their tangibility. However, soft power is becoming increasingly important in a world that is reaching out for peace and seeks to minimize international conflicts.On the one hand, China’s rise has been perceived negatively by many scholars, with the United States seeing it as the first real threat since the collapse of the Soviet Union. In the past30years, China’s foreign policies have undergone great changes as to increase soft power. To achieve this, Beijing has sought foreign investment, has pursued membership in more international organizations, has been more willing to accept Western norms, has increased diplomatic exchanges etc. China also has a rich cultural background, with leaders, philosophers that believed in wielding soft power resources to settle a conflict. Nowadays, Chinese leaders are continuing this legacy through the slogan of’China’s peaceful rise.’On the other hand, Europe competes directly with the United States in terms of soft power, since European culture has been traveling around the world for centuries now. The symbol of a uniting Europe itself carries a good deal of soft power. Lately, the European Union has made it its mission to advocate certain values such as human rights or environmental concerns to other nations, which have made scholars see Europe as a normative power.Last but not least, it can be observed that both China and the E.U. value soft power and place great importance on using all instruments that can help improve it. However, their understanding of soft power is different due to their different values and cultures. But despite these differences, and the drawbacks they might have encountered when wielding soft power, more cooperation between them could benefit them both.