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Understanding China Through Sharp Power: Dragon's Teeth?

Year 2022, Volume: 6 Issue: 2, 623 - 635, 30.11.2022
https://doi.org/10.33709/ictimaiyat.1174961

Abstract

China is making important initiatives in economic and political issues to become a global power. China's initiatives determine the approaches of other countries, especially those who see China as a threat. In this context, “sharp power” (锐实力) as a new concept of International Relations literature has been used to define China. In this study, the emergence of sharp power concept is discussed; China's sharp power policies are illustrated with various examples; and criticisms directed to the concept are mentioned. Also, many problems related to the concept have been shown, and a holistic approach to the concept has been put forward in the study. In this study, based on the literature, it has been shown that there is a “concept war” between the global powers and that China is left behind in this framework. In International Relations studies, the aims of states in international politics or cooperation or conflict situations with other countries are analyzed with smart power, soft power and many other concepts. With this study, it is aimed to contribute to both the International Relations discipline and the Chinese foreign policy literature with sharp power, which is a new concept in the discipline of International Relations.

References

  • Chapman, J. (2018). Democracies should fight sharp power with soft power. Retrieved from https://www.pacificcouncil.org/newsroom/democracies-should-fight-sharp-power-soft-power.
  • ChinaFile. (2018). How to fight China’s sharp power. Retrieved from http://www.chinafile.com/conversation/how-fight-chinas-sharp-power.
  • Cole, J. M. (2018). The Hard edge of sharp power: understanding China’s influence operations abroad. Ottowa: Macdonald-Laurier Institute.
  • Copper, J. F. (2018). The new concept of “sharp power” in international politics: a critique. Retrieved from https://www.ippreview.com/index.php/Blog/single/id/652.html
  • Economist. (2017a). December 16th-22nd, 425, 9071.
  • Economist. (2017b). At the sharp end. December 16th-22nd, 425, 9071: 17-19.
  • Economist. (2017c). Sharp power. December 16th-22nd, 425, 9071: 9.
  • Ekomonitor. (2018). Dünyaya yeni bir perspektiften bakmak: Çin’in Batı’yla olan dansı. Retrieved from http://www.ekomonitor.com.tr/cin-monitoru/dunyaya-yeni-bir-perspektiften-bakmak-cinin-batiyla-dansi/ (9.02.2021).
  • Fulda, A. (2019). The Struggle for Democracy in mainland China, Taiwan and Hong Kong sharp power and its discontents. New York: Routledge.
  • Global Times (2018). Sharp power concept proves Western bias. Retrieved from http://www.globaltimes.cn/content/1087165.shtml#.WnQCGvYMS-M.twitter
  • Graham, E. J. (2014). Confucius institutes threaten academic freedom. Retrieved from https://www.aaup.org/article/confucius-institutes-threaten-academic-freedom#.XbM2KegzbIV
  • Haas, B. (2017). Cambridge University Press headed for showdown with China over censorship. Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/sep/09/cambridge-university-press-headed-for-showdown-with-china-over-censorship
  • Hur, A. (2019). North Korea’s sharp power and the divide over Korean identities. In G.Rozman (Ed.). Joint U.S.-Korea Academic Studies, Volume 30, (p. 181-198) Washington DC: Korea Economic Institute of America.
  • Isackson, P. (2019). Sharpening the knives of diplomacy. Retrieved from https://www.fairobserver.com/region/north_america/soft-power-hard-power-joseph-nye-diplomacy-world-politics-news-today-56123.
  • Koetse, M. (2018). On ‘sharp power’ & the China threat 3.0: ‘the West is mentally stuck in cold war era. Retrieved from https://www.whatsonweibo.com/on-sharp-power-the-china-threat-3-0-the-west-is-mentally-stuck-in-cold-war-era/
  • Lincot, E. (2019). La Chine et sa politique étrangère: le sharp power face à l’incertitude?. Revue internationale et stratégique, 115: 39-49.
  • Liu, X. (2018). What sharp power? it’s nothing but “unsmart” power. Retrieved from https://www.uscpublicdiplomacy.org/blog/what-sharp-power-it%E2%80%99s-nothing-%E2%80%9Cunsmart%E2%80%9D-power
  • Lubin, G. (2016). 18 Hollywood movies that pandered to China's giant box office. Retrieved from https://www.businessinsider.com/hollywood-movies-in-china-2016-10
  • Mead, W. R. (2004). America's sticky power. Foreign Policy, 141: 46-53.
  • Mead, W. R. (2005). Power, terror, peace, and war: America's grand strategy in a world at risk, New York: Vintage Books.
  • Messa, P. (2019). The age of sharp power: China, Russia and Iran: The interference is not soft. the Italian case, Milano: Bocconi University Press.
  • Mozur, P. (2018). China Presses Its Internet Censorship Efforts Across the Globe. Retrieved from https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/02/technology/china-technology-censorship-borders-expansion.html
  • National Endowment for Democracy (2017). Soft Power to Sharp Power: Rising Authoritarian Influence in the Democratic World. Retrieved from https://www.ned.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Sharp-Power-Rising-Authoritarian-Influence-Full-Report.pdf
  • Nye, J. (2015). The limits of Chinese soft power. Retrieved from https://gulfnews.com/opinion/op-eds/the-limits-of-chinese-soft-power-1.1549699
  • Nye, J. S. Jr. (2018a). China’s soft and sharp power. Retrieved from https://www.project-syndicate.org/commentary/china-soft-and-sharp-power-by-joseph-s--nye-2018-01/english?barrier=accesspaylog
  • Nye, J. S. Jr. (2018b). How sharp power threatens soft power. Retrieved from https://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/china/2018-01-24/how-sharp-power-threatens-soft-power.
  • Nye, J. S. Jr. (2019). Democracy's dilemma. Retrieved from https://bostonreview.net/forum/democracys-dilemma/joseph-s-nye-jr-sharp-power-not-soft-power-should-be-target
  • Rasheed, A. (2018). After hard, soft and smart, it’s sharp power. Retrieved from http://english.alarabiya.net/en/views/news/middle-east/2018/01/24/After-hard-soft-and-smart-it-s-sharp-power.html
  • Reporters Without Borders. (2018). South Africa: Journalist loses column after publishing an article critical of China. Retrieved from https://rsf.org/en/news/south-africa-journalist-loses-column-after-publishing-article-critical-china
  • Sha, Y. (2019). The myth of China as a 'sharp power. Retrieved from https://news.cgtn.com/news/3d3d414f354d6a4e32457a6333566d54/index.html
  • Shepherd, C. (2017). China warns on overseas content after Springer Nature pulls some articles. Retrieved from https://www.reuters.com/article/us-china-censorship/china-warns-on-overseas-content-after-springer-nature-pulls-some-articles-idUSKBN1D60EF
  • Si, L. (2018). Spotlight: 'Sharp power' or Western invisible power. Retrieved from http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/201802/13/WS5a82a339a3106e7dcc13c8d9.html (21.01.2022).
  • Singh, M. (2018). From smart power to sharp power: How China promotes her national interests. Journal of Defence Studies, 12(3): 5-25.
  • Taehwan, K. (2018). Authoritarian sharp power: Comparing China and Russia. Retrieved from http://www.theasanforum.org/authoritarian-sharp-power-comparing-china-and-russia/
  • The Soft Power 30. (2019). China, 2019. https://softpower30.com/country/china/
  • Wagner, D. (2019). China is waging a silent media war for global influence. Retrieved from https://nationalinterest.org/feature/china-waging-silent-media-war-global-influence-81906.
  • Walker, C. (2018a). What Is ‘sharp power’?. Journal of Democracy, 29(3): 9-23.
  • Walker, C. (2018b). The Point of Sharp Power. Retrieved from https://www.japantimes.co.jp/opinion/2018/02/12/commentary/world-commentary/point-sharp-power/#.XILPZSgzbIU
  • Walker, C. (2018c). Russian and Chinese sharp power. Retrieved from https://www.ft.com/content/648187ce-8068-11e8-af48-190d103e32a4
  • Walker, C. (2019a). China’s foreign influence and sharp power strategy to shape and influence democratic institutions. Retrieved from https://docs.house.gov/meetings/IG/IG00/20190516/109462/HHRG-116-IG00-Wstate-WalkerC-20190516.pdf
  • Walker, C. (2019b). Safeguarding democracies against authoritarian sharp power. Retrieved from https://policyoptions.irpp.org/magazines/january-2019/safeguarding-democracies-against-authoritarian-sharp-power/
  • Walker, C. and Ludwig, J. (2017a). The meaning of sharp power: How authoritarian states project influence. Retrieved from https://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/china/2017-11-16/meaning-sharp-power?cid=int-fls&pgtype=hpg
  • Walker, C. and Jesscica L. (2017b). From ‘soft power’ to ‘sharp power’: Rising authoritarian influence in the democratic world”, Soft power to sharp power: rising authoritarian influence in the democratic world, Retrieved from https://www.ned.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Sharp-Power-Rising-Authoritarian-Influence-Full-Report.pdf
  • Williamson, K. (2018). Nothing soft about China’s sharp power. Retrieved from https://www.cfc.forces.gc.ca/259/290/402/305/williamson.pdf
  • Wu, Y. (2019). Recognizing and resisting China’s evolving sharp power. American Journal of Chinese Studies, 26(2): 129-153.
  • Yabin, L. (2018). Sharp power should not cut ties. Retrieved from https://www.chinausfocus.com/foreign-policy/sharp-power-should-not-cut-ties
  • Yanru, C. (2018). Sharp power': West gets it wrong. Retrieved from http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/201801/16/WS5a5d4072a3102c394518f65e.html

Keskin Güç ile Çin’i Anlamak: Ejderha’nın Dişleri Mi?

Year 2022, Volume: 6 Issue: 2, 623 - 635, 30.11.2022
https://doi.org/10.33709/ictimaiyat.1174961

Abstract

Çin, küresel bir güç olmak için ekonomik ve siyasi konularda önemli girişimlerde bulunmaktadır. Çin'in girişimleri, özellikle Çin'i tehdit olarak gören ülkeler başta olmak üzere diğer ülkelerin yaklaşımlarını belirlemektedir. Bu bağlamda, Uluslararası İlişkiler literatürünün yeni bir kavramı olarak “keskin güç” kavramı Çin'i tanımlamak için kullanılmıştır. Bu çalışmada keskin güç kavramının ortaya çıkışı tartışılmış, Çin'in keskin güç politikaları çeşitli örneklerle gösterilmiş ve kavrama yöneltilen eleştirilerden bahsedilmiştir. Ayrıca çalışmada kavramla ilgili birçok sorun gösterilmiş ve kavrama yönelik bütüncül bir yaklaşım ortaya konulmuştur. Literatüre dayalı bu çalışmada küresel güçler arasında bir “kavram savaşı” olduğu ve Çin'in bu çerçevede geride kaldığı gösterilmiştir. Uluslararası İlişkiler çalışmalarında, akıllı güç, yumuşak güç ve diğer birçok kavramla devletlerin uluslararası politikadaki amaçları veya diğer ülkelerle işbirliği ya da çatışma durumları analiz edilmiştir. Bu çalışma ile Uluslararası İlişkiler disiplininde yeni bir kavram olan keskin güç ile hem Uluslararası İlişkiler disiplini hem de Çin dış politikası literatürüne katkı sağlanması amaçlanmıştır.

References

  • Chapman, J. (2018). Democracies should fight sharp power with soft power. Retrieved from https://www.pacificcouncil.org/newsroom/democracies-should-fight-sharp-power-soft-power.
  • ChinaFile. (2018). How to fight China’s sharp power. Retrieved from http://www.chinafile.com/conversation/how-fight-chinas-sharp-power.
  • Cole, J. M. (2018). The Hard edge of sharp power: understanding China’s influence operations abroad. Ottowa: Macdonald-Laurier Institute.
  • Copper, J. F. (2018). The new concept of “sharp power” in international politics: a critique. Retrieved from https://www.ippreview.com/index.php/Blog/single/id/652.html
  • Economist. (2017a). December 16th-22nd, 425, 9071.
  • Economist. (2017b). At the sharp end. December 16th-22nd, 425, 9071: 17-19.
  • Economist. (2017c). Sharp power. December 16th-22nd, 425, 9071: 9.
  • Ekomonitor. (2018). Dünyaya yeni bir perspektiften bakmak: Çin’in Batı’yla olan dansı. Retrieved from http://www.ekomonitor.com.tr/cin-monitoru/dunyaya-yeni-bir-perspektiften-bakmak-cinin-batiyla-dansi/ (9.02.2021).
  • Fulda, A. (2019). The Struggle for Democracy in mainland China, Taiwan and Hong Kong sharp power and its discontents. New York: Routledge.
  • Global Times (2018). Sharp power concept proves Western bias. Retrieved from http://www.globaltimes.cn/content/1087165.shtml#.WnQCGvYMS-M.twitter
  • Graham, E. J. (2014). Confucius institutes threaten academic freedom. Retrieved from https://www.aaup.org/article/confucius-institutes-threaten-academic-freedom#.XbM2KegzbIV
  • Haas, B. (2017). Cambridge University Press headed for showdown with China over censorship. Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/sep/09/cambridge-university-press-headed-for-showdown-with-china-over-censorship
  • Hur, A. (2019). North Korea’s sharp power and the divide over Korean identities. In G.Rozman (Ed.). Joint U.S.-Korea Academic Studies, Volume 30, (p. 181-198) Washington DC: Korea Economic Institute of America.
  • Isackson, P. (2019). Sharpening the knives of diplomacy. Retrieved from https://www.fairobserver.com/region/north_america/soft-power-hard-power-joseph-nye-diplomacy-world-politics-news-today-56123.
  • Koetse, M. (2018). On ‘sharp power’ & the China threat 3.0: ‘the West is mentally stuck in cold war era. Retrieved from https://www.whatsonweibo.com/on-sharp-power-the-china-threat-3-0-the-west-is-mentally-stuck-in-cold-war-era/
  • Lincot, E. (2019). La Chine et sa politique étrangère: le sharp power face à l’incertitude?. Revue internationale et stratégique, 115: 39-49.
  • Liu, X. (2018). What sharp power? it’s nothing but “unsmart” power. Retrieved from https://www.uscpublicdiplomacy.org/blog/what-sharp-power-it%E2%80%99s-nothing-%E2%80%9Cunsmart%E2%80%9D-power
  • Lubin, G. (2016). 18 Hollywood movies that pandered to China's giant box office. Retrieved from https://www.businessinsider.com/hollywood-movies-in-china-2016-10
  • Mead, W. R. (2004). America's sticky power. Foreign Policy, 141: 46-53.
  • Mead, W. R. (2005). Power, terror, peace, and war: America's grand strategy in a world at risk, New York: Vintage Books.
  • Messa, P. (2019). The age of sharp power: China, Russia and Iran: The interference is not soft. the Italian case, Milano: Bocconi University Press.
  • Mozur, P. (2018). China Presses Its Internet Censorship Efforts Across the Globe. Retrieved from https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/02/technology/china-technology-censorship-borders-expansion.html
  • National Endowment for Democracy (2017). Soft Power to Sharp Power: Rising Authoritarian Influence in the Democratic World. Retrieved from https://www.ned.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Sharp-Power-Rising-Authoritarian-Influence-Full-Report.pdf
  • Nye, J. (2015). The limits of Chinese soft power. Retrieved from https://gulfnews.com/opinion/op-eds/the-limits-of-chinese-soft-power-1.1549699
  • Nye, J. S. Jr. (2018a). China’s soft and sharp power. Retrieved from https://www.project-syndicate.org/commentary/china-soft-and-sharp-power-by-joseph-s--nye-2018-01/english?barrier=accesspaylog
  • Nye, J. S. Jr. (2018b). How sharp power threatens soft power. Retrieved from https://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/china/2018-01-24/how-sharp-power-threatens-soft-power.
  • Nye, J. S. Jr. (2019). Democracy's dilemma. Retrieved from https://bostonreview.net/forum/democracys-dilemma/joseph-s-nye-jr-sharp-power-not-soft-power-should-be-target
  • Rasheed, A. (2018). After hard, soft and smart, it’s sharp power. Retrieved from http://english.alarabiya.net/en/views/news/middle-east/2018/01/24/After-hard-soft-and-smart-it-s-sharp-power.html
  • Reporters Without Borders. (2018). South Africa: Journalist loses column after publishing an article critical of China. Retrieved from https://rsf.org/en/news/south-africa-journalist-loses-column-after-publishing-article-critical-china
  • Sha, Y. (2019). The myth of China as a 'sharp power. Retrieved from https://news.cgtn.com/news/3d3d414f354d6a4e32457a6333566d54/index.html
  • Shepherd, C. (2017). China warns on overseas content after Springer Nature pulls some articles. Retrieved from https://www.reuters.com/article/us-china-censorship/china-warns-on-overseas-content-after-springer-nature-pulls-some-articles-idUSKBN1D60EF
  • Si, L. (2018). Spotlight: 'Sharp power' or Western invisible power. Retrieved from http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/201802/13/WS5a82a339a3106e7dcc13c8d9.html (21.01.2022).
  • Singh, M. (2018). From smart power to sharp power: How China promotes her national interests. Journal of Defence Studies, 12(3): 5-25.
  • Taehwan, K. (2018). Authoritarian sharp power: Comparing China and Russia. Retrieved from http://www.theasanforum.org/authoritarian-sharp-power-comparing-china-and-russia/
  • The Soft Power 30. (2019). China, 2019. https://softpower30.com/country/china/
  • Wagner, D. (2019). China is waging a silent media war for global influence. Retrieved from https://nationalinterest.org/feature/china-waging-silent-media-war-global-influence-81906.
  • Walker, C. (2018a). What Is ‘sharp power’?. Journal of Democracy, 29(3): 9-23.
  • Walker, C. (2018b). The Point of Sharp Power. Retrieved from https://www.japantimes.co.jp/opinion/2018/02/12/commentary/world-commentary/point-sharp-power/#.XILPZSgzbIU
  • Walker, C. (2018c). Russian and Chinese sharp power. Retrieved from https://www.ft.com/content/648187ce-8068-11e8-af48-190d103e32a4
  • Walker, C. (2019a). China’s foreign influence and sharp power strategy to shape and influence democratic institutions. Retrieved from https://docs.house.gov/meetings/IG/IG00/20190516/109462/HHRG-116-IG00-Wstate-WalkerC-20190516.pdf
  • Walker, C. (2019b). Safeguarding democracies against authoritarian sharp power. Retrieved from https://policyoptions.irpp.org/magazines/january-2019/safeguarding-democracies-against-authoritarian-sharp-power/
  • Walker, C. and Ludwig, J. (2017a). The meaning of sharp power: How authoritarian states project influence. Retrieved from https://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/china/2017-11-16/meaning-sharp-power?cid=int-fls&pgtype=hpg
  • Walker, C. and Jesscica L. (2017b). From ‘soft power’ to ‘sharp power’: Rising authoritarian influence in the democratic world”, Soft power to sharp power: rising authoritarian influence in the democratic world, Retrieved from https://www.ned.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Sharp-Power-Rising-Authoritarian-Influence-Full-Report.pdf
  • Williamson, K. (2018). Nothing soft about China’s sharp power. Retrieved from https://www.cfc.forces.gc.ca/259/290/402/305/williamson.pdf
  • Wu, Y. (2019). Recognizing and resisting China’s evolving sharp power. American Journal of Chinese Studies, 26(2): 129-153.
  • Yabin, L. (2018). Sharp power should not cut ties. Retrieved from https://www.chinausfocus.com/foreign-policy/sharp-power-should-not-cut-ties
  • Yanru, C. (2018). Sharp power': West gets it wrong. Retrieved from http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/201801/16/WS5a5d4072a3102c394518f65e.html
There are 47 citations in total.

Details

Primary Language English
Subjects Political Science
Journal Section Orjinal Makale
Authors

İlhan Aras 0000-0001-5120-8117

Early Pub Date November 27, 2022
Publication Date November 30, 2022
Submission Date September 14, 2022
Published in Issue Year 2022 Volume: 6 Issue: 2

Cite

APA Aras, İ. (2022). Understanding China Through Sharp Power: Dragon’s Teeth?. İçtimaiyat, 6(2), 623-635. https://doi.org/10.33709/ictimaiyat.1174961

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