China's Educational Soft Power through Confucius Institutes: A Case Study of South Africa

In recent years, China has been expanding its soft power in the international arena. Confucius Institutes (Cl) are China's main agents in its augmentation of soft power overseas. Known for their role as China's cultural diplomats, Cl's capacity as China's educational agent of soft power is often overlooked. By implementing document analysis, this article positions Cl as China's emissary of educational soft power. It utilizes education as a soft power tool framework with an emphasis on education as a carrier of genuine values, a country's resources, and as a tool for certain policy goals. The case study of South Africa will be discussed in this article as it is one of China's biggest partners in Africa and home of the largest number of CIs on the continent.