[Quartz] Government-funded public institutes teaching Chinese language and culture are popping up across the globe as part of a stated push to improve the country’s cultural influence with a focus on "soft power".
Since 2004 the number of Confucius Institutes in Africa has jumped from zero to 48, according to the international consulting firm Development Reimagined.
Confucius Institutes are modeled on western cultural institutes such as France’s Institut Francais, Germany’s Goethe Institute or the UK’s British Council. Such bodies have operated in Africa since the late 19th and early 20th century . The Alliance Francais was established in 1883, the British Council was established in 1934. Despite entering 100 years late in the game, China is now also only second to France when it comes to the number cultural institutes worldwide.
Confucius Institutes are set up through partnerships between a Chinese university, a host country university and the Office of Chinese Language Council International (Hanban), a language and culture promotion organization under China’s ministry of education. Hanban sends a Chinese director and language and culture instructors. |