Lecture Notes in Education Psychology and Public Media

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Lecture Notes in Education Psychology and Public Media

Vol. 40, 05 March 2024


Open Access | Article

Navigating Contradictions in Chinese Diplomacy: The Dual Narratives of “Peaceful Rise” and “Class Struggle” in Soft Power Discourse

Shiqing Xiao * 1
1 Leiden University

* Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.

Lecture Notes in Education Psychology and Public Media, Vol. 40, 38-45
Published 05 March 2024. © 2023 The Author(s). Published by EWA Publishing
This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Citation Shiqing Xiao. Navigating Contradictions in Chinese Diplomacy: The Dual Narratives of “Peaceful Rise” and “Class Struggle” in Soft Power Discourse. LNEP (2024) Vol. 40: 38-45. DOI: 10.54254/2753-7048/40/20240694.

Abstract

This research paper explores the intricate and paradoxical nature of China’s soft power, focusing on the dual narratives of “peaceful rise” (PR) and “class struggle” (CS) within its diplomacy and global strategy, The study contrasts Joseph Nye’s concept of soft power with China’s unique approach, highlighting the interplay between China’s soft power ambitions and its global image. Critical discourse analysis, particularly Fairclough’s three-step approach, is employed to dissect political language and narratives, offering a deeper understanding of the intersection of language, power, and ideology in Chinese diplomacy. The paper’s pivotal section analyzes Xi Jinping’s rhetoric on PR and CS, revealing China’s portrayal of a harmonious global emergence alongside a realist perspective on international power dynamics. The paper delves into the implications of these contrasting narratives for China’s global image and diplomatic relations. It underscores the significance of understanding China’s soft power in a connected and multipolar world, providing insights into China’s rise as a global power and its interactions with the international community. In conclusion, the paper highlights China’s struggle to balance its historical cultural identity with contemporary geopolitical realities.

Keywords

Chinese Soft Power, Chinese Diplomacy, Xi Jinping, Discourse Analysis, International Relations

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Data Availability

The datasets used and/or analyzed during the current study will be available from the authors upon reasonable request.

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Volume Title
Proceedings of the 2nd International Conference on Social Psychology and Humanity Studies
ISBN (Print)
978-1-83558-325-8
ISBN (Online)
978-1-83558-326-5
Published Date
05 March 2024
Series
Lecture Notes in Education Psychology and Public Media
ISSN (Print)
2753-7048
ISSN (Online)
2753-7056
DOI
10.54254/2753-7048/40/20240694
Copyright
05 March 2024
Open Access
This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited

Copyright © 2023 EWA Publishing. Unless Otherwise Stated