Page 12 - ELG1706 Jun Issue 448

NEWS .

‘Spiritual express train’ or

propaganda vehicle?

Recent reports spread Chinese propaganda and
from the world of that they may be compromising
western values, such as freedom
academe highlight of speech and democracy.
growing suspicion ‘Confucius Institutes don’t
over Chinese overtly force their views on
Americans, but behind the
in uence on US 511 46,000: appearance of a friendly and
universities – but university- Teachers working inviting form of diplomacy lies
the distrust goes based Confucius in Confucius a grim authoritarian reality’ said
the NAS president Peter Wood in
both ways Institutes Institutes around his preface to the report.
worldwide the world There is concern that through
By Gizzelle Sandoval the institutes, China is effectively
291,063 86,204 buying its way into education
It’s a love-hate relationship. systems and expecting instructors
They both want to be involved Chinese Chinese university to support its positions and
with each other, yet there has students studied students studied policies.
always been a lingering distrust ‘Some [universities] reported
between them. in the US in in the UK an outright ban on discussing
And two recent stories to 2015 in 2014 subjects that are censored in
emerge in the world of academe China,’ the report says. Emily
have indicated the age-old Source: Confucius Institute for Business, LSE and UNESCO Metzgar, an academic who has
tensions between the US and studied US media coverage
China could continue for some level of suspicion about western them. of the institutes, said much of
time yet. influences in its academic The institutes, which started the suspicion around them has
Some American scholars, institutions. to spring up in 2004, are come from the fact the terms
a new report suggests, are A new study by the US- educational organizations set up of agreement between CIs and
becoming increasingly wary of based National Association of by the Hanban, a branch of the American universities are not
Chinese government influence Scholars (NAS) has heavily Chinese government, to promote public (see below).
on their university campuses. criticised the presence of China’s Chinese language and culture But opponents, she said,
But reports from China Confucius Institutes (CIs) in US abroad (See fact box). had become ‘hardened in
indicate its Communist party universities, and recommended But the American academics their perspectives’ and a ‘more
government is showing the same that universities close or reform are afraid they are being used to nuanced approach’ to the issue

THE EXPERT VIEW

Associate professor Emily Metzgar, from Doctoral student Jing Su, a former teacher of
Indiana University, co-authored ‘Friends from Chinese as a second language, co-authored
afar? American media coverage of China’s ‘Friends from afar? with Emily Metzgar. She sees
Confucius Institutes.’ In this study, she analyses CIs as an opportunity to learn about China and
over 400 articles mentioning CIs and dissects as platforms of cultural communication.
American media coverage of them while ‘I understand the criticisms, but I believe that
also exploring implications for China’s public all the language institutes including Alliance
diplomacy efforts. Francaise and Goethe Institut are promoting
‘[CIs] is a topic people can get really their ideologies along with teaching language
emotional about,’ said Prof Metzgar. ‘There’s a perception that and culture,’ said Su via email.
free speech is traded for access to resources that help teach ‘I think it is a part of the adventure of learning another
about Asian culture and language. Confucius Institutes is a language and culture that you know what Chinese people think
way to present a warm, soft, fuzzy face for the country while about some issues, even if those views are different from your
sidestepping political issues’. She explains the fundamental perspectives.’ Su has found that the numbers of CIs are still
concern behind CIs is that the terms of agreement between increasing in the US despite the all of the criticisms, as the US
CIs and American universities are not public. This causes the media coverage of them is – overall – neutral. She also avoids
suspicion that there is undue Chinese in uence on academic using the word ‘propaganda’ to describe the information CIs are
freedom. She said: ‘I do worry about trade-offs that universities spreading in their curriculum because the word itself is biased.
appear to be making in partnering with Hanban to make these ‘Language and cultural exchange have never been just pure
resources available.’ ‘Do universities pull their punches on language and customs teaching and learning. Ideology is part
other issues connected to China that could jeopardize their of the process too,’ said Su. ‘Sure, China wants to gain more soft
relationship with the Chinese government?’ But she added that power and exert more in uence in the world through the CIs,
‘those who opposed the institutes could be too ‘hardened in which is what every country is doing by sponsoring their own
their perspectives’. ‘A nuanced approach is necessary’, she said. language or cultural programs.’

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