Analyzing the Cultural Diplomacy Functions of the Confucius Institute in Senegal: A Case Study of Cheikh Anta Diop University
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.61360/BoniGHSS262020930507Keywords:
cultural diplomacy, soft power, national image, Confucius Institute, China–Senegal relationsAbstract
Cultural diplomacy provides an institutional means of facilitating international cultural exchange and engagement with foreign publics. The Confucius Institute at Cheikh Anta Diop University, being the only Confucius institute in Senegal offers a case for examining cultural diplomacy through institutional cooperation, Chinese-language education, and cultural activities. Drawing on a literature review, a questionnaire survey and interviews, this article examines the Institute’s operational practices and learners’ reported experiences of Chinese culture, perceptions of China, interpersonal interaction, and China–Senegal relations. By connecting institutional arrangements with participants’ perspectives, the article offers a context-specific examination of cultural diplomacy in a Francophone West African university, while pointing out constraints and suggesting pathways for sustainable development of the Confucius institute in Senegal.
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