Title: Softening the Hard or Hardening the soft? Confucius Institutes in Southeast Asia
Speakers: Alan Hao YANG, Associate Research Fellow and Associate Professor
Institute of International Relations, National Chengchi University, TAIWAN

Date: February 19th (Thur.), 2015, 16:30 –
Place: 107, East Building, CSEAS, Kyoto University

Abstract:
Since the late 1990s, China is attempting to convey an image of itself as a “big power” with soft characteristics. The purpose is to ease the international worries caused by prevailing China Threat discourses. Confucius Institute, an institution for learning the Chinese language and promoting Chinese culture, was promoted by the Chinese government since 2004 and installed in leading universities or education institutes throughout the world. They are tasked special missions to “soften” the hard presence of China for a decade. Currently, more than 1,200 Confucius Institutes and Confucius Classrooms are established in 120 countries. This lecture will address the rationale and operation of Confucius Institute at Southeast Asian localities. First, it is aimed at explicating conceptual framework of soft power and the politics of quanxi that facilitates academic investigation into Confucius Institutes. Second, political rationale and new policy development of Confucius Institute project will be assessed. Lastly, cases studies will be introduced based upon fieldworks in Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and the Philippines.