Inbok Rhee
@inbok.bsky.social
Assistant Professor, Department of Political Science and International Studies, Yonsei University, South Korea
Our study contributes to debates on soft power & strategic competition.
When public diplomacy is seen as self-serving, it backfires—especially for China.
For policymakers, the takeaway is clear: mutuality matters.
🔗 Full paper: doi.org/10.1080/0305...
(8/8)
When public diplomacy is seen as self-serving, it backfires—especially for China.
For policymakers, the takeaway is clear: mutuality matters.
🔗 Full paper: doi.org/10.1080/0305...
(8/8)
Citizen Responses to Donor-Centeredness in the US-China Public Diplomacy Competition
The rapid expansion of China’s public diplomacy initiatives has garnered significant scholarly and popular attention as it challenges the sphere of a more traditional public diplomacy player, the U...
doi.org
February 3, 2025 at 1:42 PM
Our study contributes to debates on soft power & strategic competition.
When public diplomacy is seen as self-serving, it backfires—especially for China.
For policymakers, the takeaway is clear: mutuality matters.
🔗 Full paper: doi.org/10.1080/0305...
(8/8)
When public diplomacy is seen as self-serving, it backfires—especially for China.
For policymakers, the takeaway is clear: mutuality matters.
🔗 Full paper: doi.org/10.1080/0305...
(8/8)
Alliances shape perceptions of donor-centered diplomacy.
📌 Citizens in US-aligned countries (e.g. 🇯🇵🇦🇺🇬🇧) were less likely to penalize the US.
📌 Citizens in China-aligned countries (e.g. 🇷🇺) reacted negatively to US donor-centeredness.
(7/🧵)
📌 Citizens in US-aligned countries (e.g. 🇯🇵🇦🇺🇬🇧) were less likely to penalize the US.
📌 Citizens in China-aligned countries (e.g. 🇷🇺) reacted negatively to US donor-centeredness.
(7/🧵)
February 3, 2025 at 1:42 PM
Alliances shape perceptions of donor-centered diplomacy.
📌 Citizens in US-aligned countries (e.g. 🇯🇵🇦🇺🇬🇧) were less likely to penalize the US.
📌 Citizens in China-aligned countries (e.g. 🇷🇺) reacted negatively to US donor-centeredness.
(7/🧵)
📌 Citizens in US-aligned countries (e.g. 🇯🇵🇦🇺🇬🇧) were less likely to penalize the US.
📌 Citizens in China-aligned countries (e.g. 🇷🇺) reacted negatively to US donor-centeredness.
(7/🧵)
🌍 This has real-world implications:
Public diplomacy is a battleground for influence. If China wants to close the gap with the US, it may need to move away from donor-centered approaches and focus more on recipient needs.
(6/🧵)
Public diplomacy is a battleground for influence. If China wants to close the gap with the US, it may need to move away from donor-centered approaches and focus more on recipient needs.
(6/🧵)
February 3, 2025 at 1:42 PM
🌍 This has real-world implications:
Public diplomacy is a battleground for influence. If China wants to close the gap with the US, it may need to move away from donor-centered approaches and focus more on recipient needs.
(6/🧵)
Public diplomacy is a battleground for influence. If China wants to close the gap with the US, it may need to move away from donor-centered approaches and focus more on recipient needs.
(6/🧵)
Why? China’s soft power deficit means it has less room for strategic missteps.
When China is seen as prioritizing its own interests, skepticism rises.
The US, despite similar motives, seems to benefit from a more resilient reputation. 🔍
(5/🧵)
When China is seen as prioritizing its own interests, skepticism rises.
The US, despite similar motives, seems to benefit from a more resilient reputation. 🔍
(5/🧵)
February 3, 2025 at 1:42 PM
Why? China’s soft power deficit means it has less room for strategic missteps.
When China is seen as prioritizing its own interests, skepticism rises.
The US, despite similar motives, seems to benefit from a more resilient reputation. 🔍
(5/🧵)
When China is seen as prioritizing its own interests, skepticism rises.
The US, despite similar motives, seems to benefit from a more resilient reputation. 🔍
(5/🧵)
When a Chinese project was framed as donor-centric, support dropped by 3.6 percentage points.
Yet, when a US project was framed the same way, it had no meaningful impact on perceptions.
🇨🇳⬇️ 3.6% 📉
🇺🇸 ↔️ No significant change
(4/🧵)
Yet, when a US project was framed the same way, it had no meaningful impact on perceptions.
🇨🇳⬇️ 3.6% 📉
🇺🇸 ↔️ No significant change
(4/🧵)
February 3, 2025 at 1:42 PM
When a Chinese project was framed as donor-centric, support dropped by 3.6 percentage points.
Yet, when a US project was framed the same way, it had no meaningful impact on perceptions.
🇨🇳⬇️ 3.6% 📉
🇺🇸 ↔️ No significant change
(4/🧵)
Yet, when a US project was framed the same way, it had no meaningful impact on perceptions.
🇨🇳⬇️ 3.6% 📉
🇺🇸 ↔️ No significant change
(4/🧵)
📌 13 countries, 15,393 respondents
📌 Tested donor-centric vs. recipient-oriented framing in public diplomacy
📌 Measured how citizens react to projects from China vs. the US
Key finding: Donor-centeredness hurts China’s soft power—but not the US.
(3/🧵)
📌 Tested donor-centric vs. recipient-oriented framing in public diplomacy
📌 Measured how citizens react to projects from China vs. the US
Key finding: Donor-centeredness hurts China’s soft power—but not the US.
(3/🧵)
February 3, 2025 at 1:42 PM
📌 13 countries, 15,393 respondents
📌 Tested donor-centric vs. recipient-oriented framing in public diplomacy
📌 Measured how citizens react to projects from China vs. the US
Key finding: Donor-centeredness hurts China’s soft power—but not the US.
(3/🧵)
📌 Tested donor-centric vs. recipient-oriented framing in public diplomacy
📌 Measured how citizens react to projects from China vs. the US
Key finding: Donor-centeredness hurts China’s soft power—but not the US.
(3/🧵)
🇺🇸🇨🇳 China’s public diplomacy is often criticized as donor-centered—prioritizing Beijing’s interests over mutual benefits.
But does this affect how citizens in recipient countries respond?
We ran a multi-country survey experiment to find out. 📊
(2/🧵)
But does this affect how citizens in recipient countries respond?
We ran a multi-country survey experiment to find out. 📊
(2/🧵)
February 3, 2025 at 1:42 PM
🇺🇸🇨🇳 China’s public diplomacy is often criticized as donor-centered—prioritizing Beijing’s interests over mutual benefits.
But does this affect how citizens in recipient countries respond?
We ran a multi-country survey experiment to find out. 📊
(2/🧵)
But does this affect how citizens in recipient countries respond?
We ran a multi-country survey experiment to find out. 📊
(2/🧵)
Anyone interested in democracy and its challenges is welcome to join! 🌍 This includes international students, foreign correspondents, scholars, or anyone curious about South Korea's recent developments. Let’s have an engaging conversation—hope to see you there!
December 14, 2024 at 5:29 AM
Anyone interested in democracy and its challenges is welcome to join! 🌍 This includes international students, foreign correspondents, scholars, or anyone curious about South Korea's recent developments. Let’s have an engaging conversation—hope to see you there!
시국선언문에도 적었듯, 우리가 지지하는 정당, 추구하는 정치적 가치나 신념의 차이는 반헌법적·반민주적 비상계엄령 앞에서 무의미합니다. 현재의 반헌법적이고 반민주적인 상황이 조속히 탄핵이라는 헌법적 절차를 통해 헌정 질서를 회복하는 방향으로 마무리되기를 바랍니다.
December 9, 2024 at 1:40 PM
시국선언문에도 적었듯, 우리가 지지하는 정당, 추구하는 정치적 가치나 신념의 차이는 반헌법적·반민주적 비상계엄령 앞에서 무의미합니다. 현재의 반헌법적이고 반민주적인 상황이 조속히 탄핵이라는 헌법적 절차를 통해 헌정 질서를 회복하는 방향으로 마무리되기를 바랍니다.
정치학자 시국선언문은 다양한 외국어로 번역되어 현재 전세계 각국의 정치학자들이 지지와 연대의 의미로 서명을 이어가는 중입니다.
December 9, 2024 at 1:40 PM
정치학자 시국선언문은 다양한 외국어로 번역되어 현재 전세계 각국의 정치학자들이 지지와 연대의 의미로 서명을 이어가는 중입니다.
Reposted by Inbok Rhee
The answer below, from Yoon's office. If they know, they're not saying.
December 8, 2024 at 2:57 AM
The answer below, from Yoon's office. If they know, they're not saying.