Leiden University Student Repository

Hermans, Emma (2024)

China: just soft power, or cultural imperialism?

Master thesis | Asian Studies (60 EC) (MA)

This thesis examines China’s cultural (foreign) policies. Taking a sample of three different case studies, this thesis aims to find an answer to the question of how China is using cultural heritage as a means to becoming a modern imperial power. A possible reason for the Chinese government to do this is that the current global power dynamic is shifting eastwards, away from the U.S., and towards China. Over the three case studies, which all fall into a different type of imperialism, it becomes clear that the cultural heritage policies China employs are not just soft power, but indeed are cultural imperialism.

China

Cultural heritage

modern imperialism

UNESCO

Author

Hermans, Emma

Faculty

Faculty of Humanities

Specialisation

History, Arts and Culture of Asia

Supervisors

Veldkamp, E.

ECTS Credits

15

Language

en