Week 6: China (Julian Merino)

Associating the word “great” with China comes naturally for most people. China has become an increasingly important country in many contexts such as economics or global popularity. It is in this respect that other countries have kept a vigilant eye on their operations and legislature as both a model and a possible international threat to security. Their rise towards peace and stability of the international system stems from China’s strategic priority in national image management. The past thirty years in modernization has been a period of trial and error in hopes of garnering overseas national interest. National image plays a vital role in international relations. Two major characteristics of national image give framework to these relationships; personal perspective and varying experiences. With personal perspective, national image is controlled by the people where they choose the appeal to other countries. In varying experiences, people can feel different emotions or visualize something else when it comes to the national image. This is all based on the summation of their experiences and could create varying connotations to that specific image. Internationally, one can manage their branding by highlighting the good, and improving the unfavorable. The Chinese have built their image over time in hand with their long history. In China’s dynasty era, the system of an absolute emperor regulated everything China did, creating a style and product that was solely China. The excerpt explained how one of the strengths in China’s national management was its close connections to their diasporas. The Chinese have kept their traditions and taken them abroad where other people can also experience the Chinese culture. What makes it even more interesting is if the one child policy China implemented has a lot of impact on this prominent Chinese identity in foreign lands. In order to make a Chinese epidemic, they have to take their customs overseas where if that law has a hand in that endeavor of national image.

Ding, Sheng. "Branding a Rising China: An Analysis of Beijing's National Image Management in the Age of China's Rise." Journal of Asian and African Studies 46.3 (2011): 293-306. Web.