Academic Exchange Programs between China and the Arab Region: A Means of Cultural Harmony or Indirect Chinese Influence?

Zreik, Mohamad

doi:10.13169/arabstudquar.43.2.0172

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Arab Studies Quarterly

Volume 43, Issue 2

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Academic Exchange Programs between China and the Arab Region: A Means of Cultural Harmony or Indirect Chinese Influence?

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Author(s): Mohamad Zreik

Publication date (Print): 1 April 2021

Journal: Arab Studies Quarterly

Publisher: Pluto Journals

Keywords: education, soft power, China, exchange programs, Arab region

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Abstract

China relies on soft power for its economic and political expansion, and this strategy has proven effective in achieving the goals set by the Chinese administration. China-Arab relations have developed greatly in the past ten years, in parallel with the increase in the number of Arab students in China. This article examines the Chinese soft power strategy towards the Arab region through student exchange programs, and the role of students in the development of Sino-Arab relations. China achieves strategic goals through soft power. A survey was conducted on a group of Arab students in China, specifically in Wuhan, to learn more about the orientations of Arab students towards Chinese policies and to get a clearer idea of life and study in China. The article concludes with new concepts about life in China, and about the Chinese environment, which have proved to be attractive to Arab students.

Content

Author and article information

Journal

Journal ID (doi): 10.2307/j50005550

Journal ID (jcode): arabstudquar

Title: Arab Studies Quarterly

Publisher: Pluto Journals

ISSN: 0271-3519

ISSN: 2043-6920

Publication date (Print): 1 April 2021

Volume: 43

Issue: 2 ( doiID: 10.13169/arabstudquar.43.issue-2 )

Pages: 172-188

Article

Publisher ID: arabstudquar.43.2.0172

DOI: 10.13169/arabstudquar.43.2.0172

SO-VID: 6af9f732-419c-405d-bcab-5f88cfbef1b2

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All content is freely available without charge to users or their institutions. Users are allowed to read, download, copy, distribute, print, search, or link to the full texts of the articles in this journal without asking prior permission of the publisher or the author. Articles published in the journal are distributed under a http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/.

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lang eng

ScienceOpen disciplines: Social & Behavioral Sciences

Keywords: exchange programs,soft power,education,Arab region,China

References

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Comments

Comment on this article

[1] Almit, M. S. (2010). China and the Middle East since World War II: Bilateral Approach. Lanham, MD, and Boulder, CO: Lexington Books.

[2] Alterman, J. B. (2009). China's Soft Power in the Middle East. In Chinese Soft Power and its Implications for the United States: Competition and Cooperation in the Developing World, ed. Carola McGiffert. Washington, DC: Center for Strategic and International Studies.

[3] Atkinson, C. (2010). Does Soft Power Matter? A Comparative Analysis of Student Exchange Programs 1980-2006. Foreign Policy Analysis, 6, 1-22.

[4] Callahan, W. A. and Barabantseva, E. (eds) (2012). China Orders the World, Baltimore, MD: Johns Hopkins University Press.

[5] China Scholarship Council (2020). Introduction to Chinese Government Scholarships. http://www.campuschina.org/scholarshipdetailen.aspx?cid=97&id=2070, accessed August 24, 2020.

[6] Christensen, T. (2006). Fostering Stability or Creating a Monster? The Rise of China and the U.S. Policy toward East Asia. International Security, 31(1), 95.

[7] Downs, E. S. (2004). The Chinese Energy Security Debate. The China Quarterly, 177 (March), 21-41.

[8] Du, Y. (2013). Qunian alabo guojia zai zhongguo liuxuesheng da yiwan duo ren [Last Year Arab Students in China Exceeded Ten Thousand], Science and Technology Daily, 16 September. http://digitalpaper.stdaily.com/http_www.kjrb.com/kjrb/html/2013-09/16/content_224422.htm?div=-1, accessed July 13, 2020.

[9] Garner, T. J. (2014). Eastphalia: Building a Security Community in Eastasia. Russian Academic Journal, 26(4), 8-10.

[10] Goodman, P. (2017). In Era of Trump, China's President Champions Economic Globalization. New York Times, January 17.

[11] Hongyi, L. and Yiyi Lu (eds) (2012). China's Soft Power and International Relations. London and New York: Routledge.

[12] Hu Jintao (2017). Report at the Seventeenth Party Congress. http://news.xinhuanet.com/newscenter/2007-10/24/content_6938568_6.htm,2015-1-2, accessed August 13, 2020.

[13] Jia, Q. (2010). Continuity and Change: China's Attitude toward Hard Power and Soft Power. Brookings East Asia Commentary, 44 (December). http://www.brookings.edu/research/opinions/2010/12/chinasoft-power-jia.

[14] Jiangsu Education (2013). Statistical Report for Foreign Students in China in 2012, March 29. http://www.admissions.cn/news/364282.shtml, accessed September 10, 2020.

[15] Jintao Hu (2006). Speech at Yale University, June 23. http://ph.china-embassy.org/eng/xwdt/t259486.htm, accessed August 27, 2020.

[16] Katzenstein, P. and Keohane, R. (2007). Varieties of Anti-Americanism: A Framework for Analysis. In AntiAmericanisms in World Politics, ed. Katzenstein and Keohane. New York: Cornell University Press, 9-38.

[17] Keping, Y. (2009). Democracy Is a Good Thing: Essays on Politics, Society, and Culture in Contemporary China. Washington DC: Brookings Institution Press.

[18] Kurlantzick, J. (2007). Charm Offensive: How China's Soft Power is Transforming the World. New York: Yale University Press.

[19] Ladjevac, I. (2019). “Five-in-One” Plan Stands as Milestone of Reform. China Daily, February 18.

[20] Li, E. (2018). The Rise and Fall of Soft Power. Foreign Policy, August 20.

[21] Lai, H and Lu, Y. (eds) (2012). China's Soft Power and International Relations. London and New York: Routledge.

[22] Li, J. (2006). Soft Power Building and China's Peaceful Development. China International Studies, 5, 164.

[23] Liu, Y. (2011). External Communication as a Vehicle for Disseminating Soft Power: A Study of China's Efforts to Strengthen its Cultural Soft Power in the Era of Globalization. (PhD Dissertation.) Buffalo: The State University of New York at Buffalo.

[24] Ma, L. (2005). Lun xifang chuanmei zai zhonga hezuo zhong de zuzhang zuoyong. [Western Media's Hindrance in Sino-Arab Cooperation], Arab World Studies, 6, 53-58.

[25] Ma, L. (2011). Zhong a wenming jiaowang mianlin de tiaozhan ji duice sikao. [China-Arab States Civilization Exchanges: Challenges and Countermeasures]. Arab World Studies, 16(2) (China Academic Journal Electronic Publishing House).

[26] Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China (2019). Statistical Report on International Students in China for 2018. http://en.moe.gov.cn/documents/reports/201904/t20190418_378692.html, accessed August 28, 2020.

[27] Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China (2016). China's Arab Policy Paper, January 13. https://www.fmprc.gov.cn/mfa_eng/zxxx_662805/t1331683.shtml, accessed August 3, 2020.

[28] Naughton, B. (2010). 'China's Distinctive System: Can it be a Model for Others? Journal of Contemporary China, 19(65), 437-460.

[29] Nye, J. (2005). Soft Power and Higher Education. Internet and the University Forum, 11, 11-14.

[30] Qingguo, J. (2010). Continuity and Change: China's Attitude toward Hard Power and Soft Power. Washington DC: Brookings Institution Press.

[31] Rakhmat, M. Z. (2014). China and Saudi Arabia: Strengthening Ties through Education. Daily Sabah, April 13. http://www.dailysabah.com/opinion/2014/04/14/china-and-saudiarabia-strength-ening-ties-through-education.

[32] Salamah, Al A. (2020). Bet on the Rise of China. Beirut: Al-akhbar, August 24.

[33] Sawahel, W. (2016). Soft Power is Attracting China to Arab Education. Al-fanarmedia, February 1.

[34] Shambaugh, D. (2010). China Flexes its Soft Power. New York Times, June 7.

[35] US Energy Information Administration (2014). China is Now the World's Largest Net Importer of Petroleum and Other Liquid Fuels. March 24. http://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.cfm?id=15531, accessed August 23, 2020

[36] Wang, J. (2006). Chinese Conception of Soft Power and its Policy Implications. International Conference on China in International Order, Nottingham University, September.

[37] Xi Jinping (2015a). Opening Speech at Boao Forum. http://www.china.org.cn/business/2015-03/29/content_35185720.htm, accessed September 18, 2020.

[38] Xi Jinping (2015b). Boao Forum for Asia. May. http://news.xinhuanet.com/politics/2015-03/28/c_1114794507.htm, accessed August 7, 2020.

[39] Xuetong, Y. and Jin, X. (2008).). “A Soft Power. Comparison between China and the United States,” Xiandai Guoji Guanxi

[40] Yongnian, Z. (2010). The Chinese Communist Party as Organizational Emperor: Culture, Reproduction and Transformation. London and New York: Routledge, 211.

[41] Yu, X. (2008). Soft Power Enhancement and China's External Strategy. China International Studies, 20, 20-35.

[42] Zheng, Y. (ed.) (2010). China and International Relations. New York: Routledge.