Description
At the beginning of the twenty-first century, China is poised to become a major global power. Though much has been written of its rise, a key aspect of this transformation has gone largely unnoticed: the way China is using soft power and diplomacy to appeal to its neighbours and distant countries alike. This fascinating book examines the significance of China’s recent reliance on soft power–diplomacy, trade incentives, cultural and educational exchange opportunities, and other techniques–to project a benign national image, position itself as a model of social and economic success, and develop stronger international alliances. Drawing on years of on-the-ground experience tracking China’s policies in Southeast Asia, Latin America, and Africa, Kurlantzick shows how China has wooed the world with a ‘charm offensive’ that has largely escaped the attention of the world. Kurlantzick discusses Beijing’s new diplomacy and how it has altered the international political landscape, changing the dynamics of China’s relationships with other countries. He analyses how these initiatives have played out, finding both diplomatic successes and failures. In a provocative conclusion, he considers a future in which China may be the first nation since the Soviet Union to rival the United States in international influence. This stimulating book will interest foreign policy experts, trade analysts, and students of international relations in India. General readers interested in changing global dynamics and the emergence of China will also find it informative.
