China’s Global Image Building Through Soft Power: A Case Study Of Grenadian Scholarship Recipients From2005-2014

With an economy that has risen to the second largest in the world, the dynamicsof China’s power has simultaneously been felt in many countries around the globe andundoubtedly in Grenada. Grenada has benefited immensely from China’s assistance innumerous ways. This can be seen through financial assistance, cheaper imports,development of the infrastructure and higher educational exchange. In2007Chinaexported a branch of its Confucius Institute in Grenada. Bilateral relations, diplomaticrelations and cultural exchanges are stronger than ever before. Along with thisheightened presence are greater efforts in promoting public diplomacy and soft power.China has taken the concept of soft power termed by Joseph Nye and furtherconceptualized it. Being an economic power, China has increased its promotion ofsoft power in order to balance its hard power or military might. Once it is able to doso, China can be considered a successful practitioner of smart power-a balance ofboth hard and soft power.This thesis conducts a qualitative case study research on Grenada which isconsidered a developing country and analyzes the perception of Grenadianscholarship recipients towards China’s soft power image. As the number ofscholarship increases yearly allowing Grenadians to study in China, so has China’sinfluence. The aim of this study is to understand the influence China has on studentsfrom a developing country and in what ways they assist in the promotion of China’simage and global influence after returning home. Based on their location, theresearcher also seeks to understand their university experience and the ability of theuniversity’s faculty to generate soft power. This study argues that Grenadianscholarship recipients have helped to improve China’s soft power image afterreturning home and starting employment thus causing higher educational exchange tobe a successful generator of soft power. They have helped sensitized their familiesand friends about China which results in an increase in the number of studentsstudying in China each year and this has forged greater ties between the two countriesand helps to create stronger interpersonal bonds.