Confucius Institutes

Language learning can be a powerful tool for promoting greater understanding between different cultures. China’s network of Confucius Institutes were established to support Chinese language learning globally. The first Confucius Institute was established on November 21, 2004 in Seoul, South Korea, and there are now 357 in 97 countries on five continents. The Confucius Institute is an organization that promotes Chinese culture internationally through affiliated branches that are often hosted by universities and colleges. It is governed by the Chinese Language Council,¹ which is composed of 12 Chinese government agencies including the Ministry of Education, Ministry of Commerce, and State Council Information Office. The CLC also provides teaching and curriculum materials which focus on China’s history, culture, and language.

The Confucius Institute at Michigan State University has also established a virtual Confucius Institute within the virtual world Second Life with the same goals as its brick and mortar counterpart.²

The role of the Chinese government in overseeing the governance of the Confucius Institutes raises questions about the kind of understanding of Chinese culture that is being advanced. If Chinese history is sanitized by the erasure of China’s censored past and of current social issues, will these officially supported programs contribute to greater understanding or to a misunderstanding of China? What will be the implications for the role of the international academic community in supporting the progress of human rights in China and elsewhere in the world?

Global Cultural Events

In addition to the Confucius Institutes, Chinese authorities are actively promoting film festivals, painting and photography exhibits, cultural festivals, and performances throughout the world. Many of these cultural exchanges are not only prominently supported by the Chinese government, but also include the participation of Chinese ambassadors, representatives from the Chinese Ministry of Culture, China’s State Council Information Office, and their foreign official counterparts.

In co-hosting cultural events with the Chinese authorities, is the international community falling into the trap of conflating the “Chinese culture” of China’s ancient past with the Chinese culture co-opted by an authoritarian government? What is the impact of this made-for-export version of Chinese culture on human rights and on the diversity and independence of domestic Chinese voices?

The World Celebrates Chinese Culture 2009: A Select List