Cultural diplomacy as soft power; A comparative study of China and South Africa, 1990-2010

Abstract

This study is based on the search for better ways of relations between states other than the previous domination of hard power use. With the growing trend of countries 'looking-east' it is definite that China's growth has caught the attention of the world. This paper seeks to identify why, and find out whether it could be attributed to their intense effort in soft power and Cultural Diplomacy. The study starts with the examination of whether cultural diplomacy as a form of soft power affects foreign policy and inter-state relations. The framework used in the study is based on the theory of idealism which helps explain why soft power is more effective than hard power. The methodology used is reviewing of secondary data and analyzing interviewees to come up with qualitative data. The study uses two case studies; China and South Africa. Finally, the fifth chapter which is analytical, seeking to verify the findings and the hypotheses, brings the study to a conclusion that indeed cultural diplomacy as a form of soft power not only boosts relations but also economies. The sixth chapter gives recommendations to policy makers and points out further areas of research.