This book comparatively assesses the China and India’s soft power strategy in Iran. By employing Joseph S. Nye’s “Soft Power” theory and forming the new concept of “Power of Bonding”, this book formulated China and India’s soft power narratives and applied it through the empirical analysis in Iran. Based on this theory, this book seeks explanations for the question of “How China and India respectively, strategically and comparatively use the soft power strategy in Iran?”. To reach the find-out, this book compares the understanding, resources, strategies, influences and uses of China and India’s soft power in Iran under three thematic areas, including “power of bonding through cultural attractions, and attributions”; “political and diplomatic engagement” and “economic partnerships”. By analysing China and India’s soft power strategy in Iran, this book seeks to contribute to the soft power literature through a theoretical replication based on non-Western soft power strategy, the concept and its empirical application in China and India.
Author(s): Md. Nazmul Islam
Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan
Year: 2022
Language: English
Pages: 374
City: Cham
Acknowledgements
Praise for Power of Bonding and Non-Western Soft Power Strategy in Iran
Contents
List of Figures
List of Tables
1 Introduction
1.1 Contextual Background and Justification of the Book
1.1.1 Existing Debates on Soft Power
1.1.1.1 China’s Soft Power Strategy
1.1.1.2 India’s Soft Power Strategy
1.1.1.3 Comparative Study on China and India’s Soft Power Strategy in Iran
1.2 Why China and India’s Soft Power Strategy in the Case of Iran?
1.3 Methodology of the Study
1.4 Structure of the Book
References
2 Theoretical Framework and Non-Western Soft Power Strategy
2.1 Soft Power in the Theoretical Framework
2.2 Joseph S. Nye and Theory of Soft Power: Whether Soft Power Is a Power?
2.2.1 Behaviors, Currencies, and Policies of Soft Power
2.2.1.1 Resources and Currencies of Soft Power
2.2.1.2 Behaviors Associated with Soft Power
2.2.1.3 Attraction as Influence and Persuasion
2.3 Current Conceptualization of Soft Power
2.3.1 Soft Power as a Western Hegemonic Discourse
2.3.2 Beyond Nye’s Conceptualization of Soft Power and Re-conceptualization of Soft Power
2.3.2.1 De-Westernization of Soft Power
2.4 The Theoretical Approach of This Study
2.4.1 Content Analysis and Soft Power
2.4.2 “Power of Bonding” as a Re-Conceptualization of Soft Power
References
3 China’s Soft Power Strategy
3.1 China’s Soft Power Strategy
3.1.1 The Narratives of China’s Foreign Policy Strategy
3.1.1.1 Shaping China’s Foreign Policy to Gain Soft Power
3.1.2 Overview of China’s Soft Power Policy and Resources
3.1.2.1 China’s Educational Resources
3.1.2.2 Confucius Institute
3.1.2.3 Chinese Film Industry
3.1.2.4 Belt and Road Initiative- Vehicle of China’s Soft Power
3.1.2.5 COVID-19, Health Silk Road, and China’s Soft Power
3.1.2.6 Other Tools of China’s Soft Power
References
4 China’s Soft Power Strategy in Iran
4.1 “Power of Bonding” Through Historical and Civilizational Roots
4.1.1 The Narrative of Cooperation
4.1.2 China’s Strategic Partner
4.1.3 Modern China with Post-Revolutionary Iran
4.2 “Power of Bonding” Through Political and Diplomatic Engagement
4.2.1 Diplomatic Assistance During Iran-Iraq War
4.2.2 Diplomatic Engagement After Cold War
4.2.3 China’s Assistance During the Iran-USA’s Hardened Conflict
4.2.4 China’s Nuclear Assistance for Iran
4.2.5 Chinese Embassy Engagement with Iran
4.2.6 China’s Soft Political Influence Through Hard Power
4.3 “Power of Bonding” Through Cultural Engagement and Cooperation
4.3.1 Cultural Engagement Through Embassy
4.3.2 Cultural Influences Through Educational Opportunity
4.3.3 Soft Influence Through Confucius Institute
4.3.4 Other Cultural Tools of Soft Power
4.4 “Power of Bonding” through Economic Partnerships
4.4.1 Energy Cooperation
4.4.2 Infrastructure Development
4.5 “Power of Bonding” Through Belt and Road Initiative (BRI)
4.6 Summary
References
5 India’s Soft Power Strategy
5.1 India’s Soft Power Strategy
5.1.1 The Narratives of India’s Foreign Policy Strategy
5.1.1.1 Shaping India’s Foreign Policy to Gain Soft Power
5.1.2 Overview of India’s Soft Power Policy and Resources
5.1.2.1 History and Civilizational Roots
5.1.2.2 India’s Culture as a Resource of Soft Power
5.1.2.3 Media Resources
5.1.2.4 Economic Model and Influence
5.1.2.5 Education and Scholarships
5.1.2.6 Politics and Governance
References
6 India’s Soft Power Strategy in Iran
6.1 India’s Soft Power Strategy in Iran
6.1.1 “Power of Bonding” Through Historical and Civilizational Roots
6.1.1.1 Engagement and Cooperation After Iranian Revolution
6.1.2 “Power of Bonding” Through Political and Diplomatic Engagement
6.1.3 “Power of Bonding” Through India’s Cultural Attractions
6.1.3.1 History of Cultural Exchanges
6.1.3.2 Educational Influences Through Scholarships and Exchange Programs
6.1.3.3 Influences Through Movie, Drama, and Bollywood
6.1.4 “Power of Bonding” Through Economic Partnerships
6.1.4.1 Energy Cooperation
6.1.4.2 Infrastructural Development, Chabahar Port, and India’s Connectivity
6.2 Summary
References
7 Comparing the China and India’s Soft Power Strategy in the Case of Iran
7.1 Content Analysis
7.1.1 Newspaper Archive
7.1.2 Assessment of Data
7.1.3 Coding Scheme
7.1.4 Discussions on the Theme
7.2 Comparing the China and India’s Soft Power Strategy in the Case of Iran
7.2.1 Comparing the Content Analysis and Interviews on China and India’s Soft Power Strategy in Iran
7.2.1.1 News Representation on China’s Soft Power Strategy in Iran
7.2.1.2 News Representation on India’s Soft Power Strategy in Iran
7.2.1.3 Comparing the News Representation on China and India’s Soft Power Strategy in Iran
7.2.2 Comparing Soft Power Strategy through Cultural Attractions
7.2.2.1 Comparing the Newspaper’s Content Analysis on China and India’s Cultural Influences, Attractions, and Attributions in Iran
7.2.3 Comparing Soft Power Strategy through Political and Diplomatic Engagement
7.2.3.1 Comparing the Newspaper’s Content Analysis on China and India’s Political and Diplomatic Engagement in Iran
7.2.4 Comparing Soft Power Strategy Through Economic Partnerships
7.2.4.1 Comparting the Newspaper’s Content Analysis on China and India’s Political and Diplomatic Engagement in Iran
Reference
8 Conclusion
8.1 Case Study: Iran
8.1.1 China has Significant Cultural Influence on Iran Despite the India’s Consistent Soft Cultural Approach on Iran
8.1.2 Both India and China have Equal Political and Diplomatic Engagement with Iran
8.1.3 China’s Economic Partnerships with Iran has Substantial Influence on Iran While India is Struggling to Continue their Economic Partnerships with Iran
References
Index
