Reflection on the virtual book talk with Dr. Maria Repnikova
Dr. Maria Repnikova's book on "Chinese Soft Power" explains China's efforts to increase its global influence through cultural diplomacy, media campaigns, and economic initiatives. According to Repnikova, China's concept of soft power involves the promotion of its culture and values as a means of attracting and persuading other countries to support its foreign policy objectives (Repnikova, 2022).
Repnikova's analysis is grounded in empirical research, drawing on interviews with Chinese officials, scholars, and journalists, as well as public opinion surveys and media content analysis. In her book, she states that China's soft power initiatives include the establishment of Confucius Institutes, the development of international media outlets such as CCTV and Xinhua News which emphasize China’s economic success, and the promotion of Chinese cultural exports such as cinema and music. China has also invested heavily in infrastructure projects such as the Belt and Road Initiative, which aims to increase economic connectivity and influence across Asia and beyond (Repnikova, 2022).
However, Repnikova argues that China's soft power efforts have had limited success due to factors such as a lack of cultural appeal, concerns about China's human rights record, and skepticism about China's intentions. Additionally, China's assertive foreign policy and use of economic leverage have at times undermined its soft power efforts and led to backlash from other countries (Repnikova, 2022).
The courses that I have taken for my media and politics minor have provided me with a deeper understanding of the role of media in political processes, including the use of soft power. Through this minor, I have been exposed to topics such as media ownership and control, propaganda, the role of the media in elections, and the relationship between media and democracy, all of which are significant topics that help me understand the concept of soft power even further. Through the talk with Dr. Maria Repnikova, I was able to solidify this knowledge by witnessing a live example of thecrucial role that media plays in soft power, by analyzing China's soft power strategy through various media platforms, as it is used to promote Chinese culture, disseminate Chinese values, and shape China's international image. For instance, China has been actively promoting its culture and language through media flagships such as China Radio International, Xinhua and the China Global Television Network (Yu et al., 2019). Chinese media outlets have also been increasingly engaging with social media platforms, such as Weibo and WeChat, to promote Chinese culture and values to a global audience and reinforce these values domestically. Furthermore, Chinese social media platforms such as TikTok support the expansion of Chinese influence internationally, as they become more involved in international venture capital and stock markets, as well as being politically and culturally "odorless," they add a social component and strategy to Chinese soft power (Yu et al., 2019).
On the other hand, it was also interesting to see how concepts that I have learned in my media and politics courses such as media censorship translate into real world scenarios. For example, the effectiveness of China's soft power strategy through media is also a subject of debate, with critics arguing that China's media environment is highly censored and controlled, limiting the diversity of viewpoints and ultimately undermining its soft power efforts. Furthermore, we can see how the relationship between media and politics in China is complex since China's soft power efforts through media are often perceived as being part of a broader strategy to expand its influence and challenge the dominance of Western values and institutions. As such, the relationship between media and politics in China's soft power strategy is a subject of ongoing debate and scrutiny, reflecting the complex interrelationship between media and politics in general.
References
Repnikova, M. (2022). Chinese Soft Power (Elements in Global China). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. doi:10.1017/9781108874700
Yu, H., Maliangkay, R., Archana, A. L., Saeji, C., Suryanarayana, P. S., Lim, T. W., Morreale, B., Horta, L., Bitas, B. C., Min, M., editors, E. A. F., Weerakoon, D., Arao, D. A., Slater, D., Tsuya, N., Parvez, S., & *, N. (2019, June 27). China's 'social+' approach to soft power. East Asia Forum. Retrieved March 8, 2023, from https://www.eastasiaforum.org/2019/06/27/chinas-social-approach-to-soft-power/
