Study On The Impact Of Chinese Public Diplomacy In Africa

Soft powers has become one of the most vital tools that has been used by the major powers to achieve their foreign policy goals in order to demonstrate their global influence,China as emerging power in its own capabilities has also engages in this global competition among the major powers by adopting soft powers as one of its means to fulfill its aspirations as,in line with its policy,China has set a policy to attract African students in general and Kenyan students in particular by offering scholarship program in Chinese educational institutions,educational exchange program is fall under the core umbrella of cultural diplomacy,over the fact that,through education the students will get into close interaction with the ordinary people in the host country,in addition to learning the language and other elements of the host culture,so,the study main purpose is to look at the role of educational assistance and exchange program in promoting the image and prestige of the host country,in this regard,the study examines in what manner the Chinese government has adopted and practices Education Programs as a soft power tool to substitute multicultural understanding,shape trust between nations and promote its national image,the question that the study is attempt to answer is To what extent has the educational exchange programs impacted the recipients' and what is their perception towards China's image in Kenya?,Furthermore,the study seeks to institute whether the Chinese culture has had an affirmative effect on the recipients such that they would want to match them.In an attempt to come up with convenience answer to the question,the study showed that,the impact of cultural diplomacy in charming international discourse,China in its path to attract foreign students with view of enhancing its prestige and image,has established many programs,mainly educational scholarship for African students as a part of its educational support to the continent,form the other hand many educational project has been built in Africa for purpose of promoting the education sectors in Africa,particularly in Kenya Chinese government established Confucius institute in Nairobi university in 2016 to carry out the task of teaching Chinese language and polishing Chinese culture in general,as a result of that,China image has improved in Kenya,where the ordinary people has expressed their positive opinions towards China,in line with that,Kenyan students who are study in China has stated their satisfaction with the educational system and admiration for Chinese culture as one of the most oldest and interesting culture with more than 5000 years,in addition to that,China has built many schools in Kenya,and has offered other Kenyan officials training courses in different Chinese institutions,all these activities are driven by the good will of the leadership of the two countries and diplomatic led agenda,meanwhile the significant of the study is to provide new scope regarding the bilateral relations between the two countries putting into the consideration the importance of educational and exchange program that serve the people of both countries and fulfill their mutual understanding and common benefits,the study also will add value to the policy makers in the two countries by getting more close understanding the importance of the education exchange program for the future generations of the two countries,and the implication of that towards building good image for China.Generally the study has comprised five chapters,Chapter one cover the introductory part explaining culture diplomacy and its tools such as education exchange program adopting by Chinese government as soft power tool to promote its image toward African country and particular Kenya also the significant of study and the method we used to colleting the relevant information concerning the subject which is include desk review and survey questionnaire has been distributed to one hundred fifty Kenyan students conducting their studies in differences Chinese university but we got seventy-five responses,the questionnaire survey,it's about the impact of Chinese culture on Kenyan student.In this chapter we go throw reviewing some literature concerning soft power theory and relevant studies on the impact of culture as tools has been used by many countries to promote its standing image within the international arena.Chapter two deals with the theoretical framework of the study which based on soft power theory according the American scholar Joseph Nye's in this chapter we explain soft power and its channel according to the definition of soft power by Joseph Nye's which is the power of culture foreign policy and organization power also we discuss approaches to soft power such as soft power and liberalism and cooperation,Chinese approaches to soft power,in this part the way that a adopting by Chinese government to use its soft power,in this regards we discuss about Confucius institute as means used by Chinese government to enhance its culture ties and image toward foreign audience by establishing many centers around the world to teach Chinese language and holding events that promoting China's image within the international globe,and finally we discuss China's understanding to public diplomacy in this regards China has an initiative toward advocating its public diplomacy,by placing prominence on interaction with the public of other states,through convinces research program and other activities,over the past few years,Chinese leaders has made effort to exercise the country soft power and adopting soft power as a tool to promote Chinese image in the world arena.Chapter three,in this chapter China as arising power pursuit for power profit and prestige in the international arena,across the history great power always,in a competition over power and dominating the international affairs.the chapter address this competition relying on different international relation approaches,as well as apart from the important of material power,soft power matter and important,therefore,China has demonstrated its high efficiency of using soft power in Africa and particular Kenya,by building friendly relation with all African countries providing African countries with aid and humanitarians support also China's soft power in Africa and particular Kenya has witnessing rapid improved as a result of diplomatically and friendly strategic relation between Africa and China,since establishing forum on China Africa cooperation,it has found that Advantages of China's soft power in Africa has over the west as the result of the friendly relation rather than western powers that aiming to interfere in the domestic affairs of African countries,but China relation with Africa based on the principle of sovereignty and respect for territorial integrity,Chinese government adopts policy which is China soft power strategy through higher education system by offering scholarship to African students to study and conducting research in China,by doing so China image improved in Africa,apart from offering scholarship and training to Kenyan student China's contribute to education sector in Kenya such as building many school and academic centers for example China Kenya friendship primary school and many other projects which is aiming to address the problem of education structure in Kenya.On other hand establishing Confucius Institute(CI)in Kenya 2016 with the objective of promoting the collaboration and teaching Chinese language beside holding events that reflecting China's culture.Chapter four shows how Chinese education scholarship program has impacted the recipients from Kenya,regarding this chapter we used the quantitative data by distributing questionnaire survey to Kenyan beneficiaries of Chinese scholarship(CSC)the questionnaire survey concerning the impact of education program on Kenyan participants and the role that is playing to promoting Chinese image and culture to those Kenyan beneficiaries of Chinese government scholarship through analyzing the data that we have obtained,the result has showed that;many positivity about this program,first Chinese image has rapidly increase in Kenya as result of academic support,also we found that the result of positive has been increase after the student starting conducting their studies in China and that shows the efficiency of academic aid on promoting Chinese image,in regards to Chinese language and culture many Kenyan beneficiaries of Chinese scholarship shows their embrace and respect to Chinese culture as one of the riches and diverse culture more than 5000 years of history,also some of them shows their desire to learn Chinese language and the role that plays by creating the atmosphere for mutual understanding between Kenyan and Chinese people,generally image of China has been improved in Kenya and Chinese culture has a positive perception toward Kenyan student beneficiaries of Chinese government scholarship and that will lead to strengths the relation between the two country,as the participants said that China has strategic relation with Kenya the two countries engage in defined type of cooperation,this relation according to some Kenyan's beneficiaries of Chinese government scholarship based on mutual respect and win-win situation,Chinese government when deals with Kenyan doesn't interfere in Kenyan domestic affairs,also the participants student were very satisfied about the quality of education in Chinese university and the good hospitality that they have received from Chinese government and people and they're welcoming the raising of China.Chapter five which is the final one concludes and gives the findings explored in this study.Also present the recommendations that meant to strengthen the Chinese educational exchange program and culture exchange toward Kenya,and the way forward towards promoting China soft power.