1st Edition
China's Non-State Soft Power Actors Tai Chi, Traditional Culture, and the Practice of Public Diplomacy
List of figures
Acknowledgements
Authors
Chapter 1 Introduction
Chapter 2 Situating China’s Efforts in the Global Landscape of Soft Power
Chapter 3 From Awareness to Confidence: The Revival of Traditional Culture
Chapter 4 Tai Chi Quan: From a Wellness and Self-Defence Exercise to a Diplomacy Vehicle
Chapter 5 Tai Chi Quan Masters as Actors of Tai Chi Diplomacy
Chapter 6 Conceptualisation: The Network Model of Objectives and the Collaboration Model
Chapter 7 Conclusion: China’s Public Diplomacy – An Alternate Perspective
Bibliography
Index
Biography
Xiaoling Zhang is a Professor in the Department of Media and Communication, University of Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University, China
Tony Hong is a Lecturer at the School of English Studies, Shanghai International Studies University, China
'Approaching the relationship between state-actors and non-state actors through the prism of Tai Chi Quan is at once logical and innovative. And because of this, the book is bound to considerably nuance, complicate and refresh our understanding of China's soft power project.' - Dr Wanning Sun, Professor of Media and Communication Studies, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, the University of Technology Sydney, Australia
'This study successfully demonstrates the importance of understanding China’s public diplomacy practices through multi-spaces on the public diplomacy spectrum. The innovative and illuminating collaborative model between state and non-state actors, rooted in a deep understanding of traditional Chinese culture, will enable scholars, policy makers and the general public to form a more comprehensive, nuanced and up-to-date understanding of public diplomacy and soft power in general, and China in particular.' - Dr Zheng Yongnian, Presidential Chair Professor, Founding Director of The Institute for International Affairs, the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen, China
'Research into the People’s Republic of China tends to exaggerate the omnipotence of political leadership. As Zhang and Hong demonstrate this is particularly misleading with respect to the functioning of second track or public diplomacy. Through a close ethnography of Tai Chi Quan’s globalisation the authors most successfully demonstrate the independence of initiative outside the state’s immediate direction if towards the collaborative goals delivered by emphasis on China’s intangible cultural heritage.' - Professor David S G Goodman, China Studies Centre, University of Sydney, Australia
