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The impact of the Chinese Government Scholarship Program and Confucius Institute on China’s national image in Botswana: a soft power perspective

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  • Lesego Alicia Keimetswe

    (East China Normal University)

Abstract

The significance of a country’s national image in international relations is the rationale behind governments placing greater emphasis on the use of soft power initiatives to shape their image. The purpose of this paper is to examine the impact of the Chinese Government Scholarship Program (CGSP) and the Confucius Institute at the University of Botswana (CIUB) on China’s national image in Botswana. The study is framed by Joseph Nye’s theory of Soft power. It employs a mixed method approach and uses both qualitative and quantitative methods to collect data. It analyses secondary information from electronic books, journal articles and thesis. The primary data for the study originates from an online questionnaire of fifty CGSP recipients and CIUB students. The results of the study show that CGSP and CIUB’s educational and cultural activities helped dispel negative perceptions of China in Botswana. However, both programs have limited impact on China’s image, as they only serve students and excludes the general population. Based on the survey results, Chinese government should undertake scholarships geared explicitly at correcting the western negative narratives that fuel the unfavourable perceptions in Botswana that the CIUB and CGSP have not sufficiently addressed.

Suggested Citation

  • Lesego Alicia Keimetswe, 2023. "The impact of the Chinese Government Scholarship Program and Confucius Institute on China’s national image in Botswana: a soft power perspective," Place Branding and Public Diplomacy, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 19(4), pages 488-499, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:pal:pbapdi:v:19:y:2023:i:4:d:10.1057_s41254-023-00305-6
    DOI: 10.1057/s41254-023-00305-6
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Nye, Joseph S., 2008. "Public Diplomacy and Soft Power," Scholarly Articles 11738397, Harvard Kennedy School of Government.
    2. Axel Dreher & Andreas Fuchs, 2015. "Rogue aid? An empirical analysis of China's aid allocation," Canadian Journal of Economics, Canadian Economics Association, vol. 48(3), pages 988-1023, August.
    3. Akhtaruzzaman, Muhammad & Berg, Nathan & Lien, Donald, 2017. "Confucius Institutes and FDI flows from China to Africa," China Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 44(C), pages 241-252.
    4. Joseph S. Nye Jr., 2008. "Public Diplomacy and Soft Power," The ANNALS of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, , vol. 616(1), pages 94-109, March.
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