The fall of Confucius Institutes and Confucius Classrooms? An analysis of closures and future directions

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Abstract

Confucius Institutes (CIs) and Confucius Classrooms (CCs) have been around for almost 20 years. These Chinese language and culture centres, set up in universities and schools respectively, have a global presence. In the years following the opening of the first CI in 2004 in Seoul, South Korea, their numbers increased rapidly, as did their geographical coverage. In the years 2008 to 2015, for example, there was an average annual increase of 37 CIs and 122 CCs, and an average annual increase of almost nine countries and regions hosting them, according to my analysis of CI Annual Development Reports. The latest available official data says that there were550 CIs and 1,172 CCs in 162 countries and regions as of the end of 2019. This is impressive, especially when compared to much longer established language and culture promotion bodies. The Alliance Française, the oldest such body, established in 1883, has 834 centres in 131 countries, while the British Council, established in1934, has offices in more than 100 countries.
Original languageEnglish
Number of pages10
JournalMelbourne Asia Review
Volume11
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 27 Jun 2022

Keywords

  • Confucius Institutes
  • Confucius Classrooms
  • China
  • Soft power
  • Chinese language
  • Language promotion
  • International relations China

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