Skip to main content

LUP Student Papers

LUND UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES

The Image Game: An Explanatory Case Study on Soft Power as a Strategic Ulterior Motive in Chinese Football

Winberg, Hanna LU (2017) STVK02 20171
Department of Political Science
Abstract
In the 21st century more states are realizing the benefits with hosting “Sports Mega-Events” such as the Olympic Games or the FIFA World Cup. These events create an opportunity for a country to spread a carefully selected image and to gain influence and attraction in the international arena, or in other words, to exercise soft power. This thesis investigates how the Chinese government, through massive economical and outspoken support to Chinese football, is trying to exert soft power. Serving as a theory-using case study, the aim is to explore how the substantial efforts that the Chinese government has taken to push the Chinese national team and the Chinese Super League internationally and nationally, can be understood and explained... (More)
In the 21st century more states are realizing the benefits with hosting “Sports Mega-Events” such as the Olympic Games or the FIFA World Cup. These events create an opportunity for a country to spread a carefully selected image and to gain influence and attraction in the international arena, or in other words, to exercise soft power. This thesis investigates how the Chinese government, through massive economical and outspoken support to Chinese football, is trying to exert soft power. Serving as a theory-using case study, the aim is to explore how the substantial efforts that the Chinese government has taken to push the Chinese national team and the Chinese Super League internationally and nationally, can be understood and explained through a soft power perspective. By using theories from Nye (2004) and Lee (2009) on empirical material such as news articles and academic literature the purpose is to disentangle the underlying reasons and analyze how professional sports leagues and national teams can serve as a strategic political tool. The conclusion is that there are multiple indications that point towards that Chinese Football is strategically utilized by China to pursue soft power. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
Winberg, Hanna LU
supervisor
organization
course
STVK02 20171
year
type
M2 - Bachelor Degree
subject
keywords
Soft Power, China, Chinese Football, Hard and Soft Resources, Sports
language
English
id
8907467
date added to LUP
2017-07-11 15:40:35
date last changed
2017-07-11 15:40:35
@misc{8907467,
  abstract     = {{In the 21st century more states are realizing the benefits with hosting “Sports Mega-Events” such as the Olympic Games or the FIFA World Cup. These events create an opportunity for a country to spread a carefully selected image and to gain influence and attraction in the international arena, or in other words, to exercise soft power. This thesis investigates how the Chinese government, through massive economical and outspoken support to Chinese football, is trying to exert soft power. Serving as a theory-using case study, the aim is to explore how the substantial efforts that the Chinese government has taken to push the Chinese national team and the Chinese Super League internationally and nationally, can be understood and explained through a soft power perspective. By using theories from Nye (2004) and Lee (2009) on empirical material such as news articles and academic literature the purpose is to disentangle the underlying reasons and analyze how professional sports leagues and national teams can serve as a strategic political tool. The conclusion is that there are multiple indications that point towards that Chinese Football is strategically utilized by China to pursue soft power.}},
  author       = {{Winberg, Hanna}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{The Image Game: An Explanatory Case Study on Soft Power as a Strategic Ulterior Motive in Chinese Football}},
  year         = {{2017}},
}