China's Cultural Soft Power The Rise and Fall of Confucius Institutes in the United States

Explores China’s cultural soft power by examining the rise and fall of Confucius Institutes in the United States. Through interviews with Confucius Institute personnel, Shao-cheng Sun analyzes the reasons these institutes succeeded or failed, their effectiveness at improving China’s image in the United States, and the results of their closure. These institutes acted as a cultural ambassador: seeking foreign partners, enhancing China’s status, and increasing its human capital. The U.S. government, mass media, and scholars have kept a watchful eye on the proliferation of the institutes. While the institutes highlighted the positive aspects of China, Sun explores why they were ultimately not effective. This book provides a complete picture of the institutes’ collapse amid tension between the U.S. and China. It offers a full-cycle analysis of their enterprise in the U.S., from its origins in the early 2000s through 2026.