The impact of the Chinese Government Scholarship Program and Confucius Institute on China’s national image in Botswana: a soft power perspective

Lesego Alicia Keimetswe ()
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Lesego Alicia Keimetswe: East China Normal University

Place Branding and Public Diplomacy, 2023, vol. 19, issue 4, No 7, 488-499

Abstract: Abstract The significance of a country’s national image in international relations is the rationale behind governments placing greater emphasis on the use of soft power initiatives to shape their image. The purpose of this paper is to examine the impact of the Chinese Government Scholarship Program (CGSP) and the Confucius Institute at the University of Botswana (CIUB) on China’s national image in Botswana. The study is framed by Joseph Nye’s theory of Soft power. It employs a mixed method approach and uses both qualitative and quantitative methods to collect data. It analyses secondary information from electronic books, journal articles and thesis. The primary data for the study originates from an online questionnaire of fifty CGSP recipients and CIUB students. The results of the study show that CGSP and CIUB’s educational and cultural activities helped dispel negative perceptions of China in Botswana. However, both programs have limited impact on China’s image, as they only serve students and excludes the general population. Based on the survey results, Chinese government should undertake scholarships geared explicitly at correcting the western negative narratives that fuel the unfavourable perceptions in Botswana that the CIUB and CGSP have not sufficiently addressed.

Keywords: National image; Chinese Government Scholarships; Confucius Institute; Soft power; Botswana–China relations (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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DOI: 10.1057/s41254-023-00305-6

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