ARTICLE
The Exercise and Role of China’s Public Diplomacy
in Europe within the Context
of the ‘Belt and Road Initiative’
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Publication date: 2018-06-30
Stosunki Międzynarodowe – International Relations 2018;54(2):143-162
KEYWORDS
ABSTRACT
Within the context of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), which aims to connect
China and Europe, the role and exercise of public diplomacy in China-Europe
relations is becoming increasingly significant, in particular China’s public diplomacy
in Europe. China has had some success in exercising its public diplomacy in Europe,
but the means of improving its relationship with Europe through public diplomacy
strategy within the context of BRI have been discussed less. China has been investing
heavily in its charm offensive, and it does have an increasingly positive influence on
developing countries, especially in Africa and Latin America. However, its image
in Europe is still predominantly negative. Due to the differences in cultural norms
and values between China and Europe, it is not enough for China to use its traditional
culture and history to create soft power; instead, it needs to unleash the talents of its
civil society and make its attractiveness conform to domestic realities. This article
aims to tackle problems with the exercise of China’s public diplomacy in Europe
and provide practical suggestions on how to enhance it in the future, particularly
through the use of non-governmental organisations (NGOs). To this end, working
within the theory of constructivism, it proposes that China and Europe must go
beyond the emotional entanglements of history and culture, cultivate innovative
thinking and initiate a new paradigm in China-Europe relations.