Confucius institutes and China's national identity
conference contribution
posted on 2012-01-01, 00:00authored byGuo-Qiang Liu
This article examines China’s Confucius Institute program, a significant language policy and planning initiative. I adopt a political perspective in looking into the birth of this language policy initiative, focusing on its role in reconstructing China’s national identity in the context of its rise and its international relations. I explore the background against which the Confucius Institute initiative was formed, and analyse how the Confucius Institute initiative was received in the West and how China responded to it. I argue that China is undergoing a reconstruction of its national identity and the Confucius Institute initiative is a major part of this effort. I suggest that such a reconstruction of national identity is an interactive process with an outcome resulting from China’s negotiation with the international community, involving China stating a new position, listening to international responses, clarifying and elaborating upon its position until its new position is accepted by the international community.
History
Event
Applied Linguistics Association of Australia. Conference ( 2012 : Perth, W.A.)
Pagination
505 - 524
Publisher
Curtin University
Location
Perth, W.A.
Place of publication
Perth, W. A.
Start date
2012-11-12
End date
2012-11-14
ISBN-13
9780987415820
Language
eng
Notes
About the conference : http://www.promaco.com.au/events/ALAA2012/program.html
Publication classification
E1.1 Full written paper - refereed
Title of proceedings
ALAA 2012 : Proceedings of the Applied Linguistics Association of Australia 2012 Conference