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Comparative Analysis of Chinese and Indian Soft Power Strategy
Author(s) -
Shah Syed Hasanat,
Hasnat Hafsa,
Rosefielde Steven
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
asian politics and policy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.193
H-Index - 12
eISSN - 1943-0787
pISSN - 1943-0779
DOI - 10.1111/aspp.12313
Subject(s) - soft power , china , power (physics) , political science , order (exchange) , perception , development economics , democracy , economic growth , political economy , economics , politics , psychology , law , physics , finance , quantum mechanics , neuroscience
In the last two decades, China and India emerged as potential contenders for great power status. During this period, both invested in soft power and capitalized on perceptions of their growing power to advance their interests without locking horns with entrenched stakeholders. This study compares the elements of Chinese and Indian soft power strategies and their impact on the international arena. The findings suggest that China's soft power strategy is more coherent than India's. China is doing well in cultural activities, people to people contacts, attracting foreign students from diverse backgrounds, and portraying itself as a progressive resilient economy while India has an upper hand projecting an image of country with a vibrant civil society and democratic order. Despite differences in spending and development, China's and India's strategies have been equally effective in favorably influencing foreign public perceptions.