For decades, the United States has promoted the Western system of democracy throughout the world. But amid the growing rivalry between the US and China, a question has arisen: is Beijing trying to export its political system? “No,” said Chinese leader Xi Jinping. “We do not intend to ‘export’ the Chinese model.”
“We also don’t want other countries to copy the way we do things.”
It would be a mistake, however, to think that Beijing does not seek to shape world opinion in favor of China’s political system. The Chinese Communist Party’s efforts simply aren’t that obvious, Daniel Mattingly, an associate professor of political science at Yale University, told Foreign Affairs.
For this purpose, the party invested heavily in public diplomacy and influence operations with the aim of making the global public more receptive to their political system.
He developed a extensive training program, conferences and workshops that teach foreign political leaders how to manage the press, the Internet, the military and civil society in accordance with the CCP standard.
Efforts more effective than the West believes
And despite the perception by some Western politicians and academics that these efforts are insufficient, China’s foreign influence operations are more sophisticated and effective than the West believes.
A way out of crushing poverty
They are mainly aimed at people in the developing worldwhere many consider the so-called Chinese model to be effective in providing them with what is most important to them: a way out of crushing poverty and entry into the global middle class.
Faced with the increasingly resounding challenge from Beijing, Washington does not respond.
Arena, the developing world
To be competitive, the United States must promote a positive view of itself throughout the world. And they need to refine that message, especially for residents of the developing world, which looks set to be the main stage of this competition. If Washington fails adapt your strategy to the evolution of today’s political and economic reality, will cede ground to Beijing – fueling international support for the Chinese model.
What is China “selling”?
To sell its political system abroad, the CCP presents it as flexible, meritocratic and highly effective in promoting economic development.
The CCP’s messages assert that China’s political system is responsive to citizens and their daily demands for government services and infrastructure.
The promoted videos feature drone footage of impressive technological achievements, such as the country’s high-speed rail network, impressive bridges and glittering airports.
The most important element in the CCP’s soft propaganda strategy is the projection of the country’s exceptional economic development.
Success, to lift millions of people out of poverty with a dollar a day
The Chinese Communist Party, he points out China’s stunning success in lifting hundreds of millions of people from dollar-a-day poverty into a global middle class is an indisputable fact.
The PCC also promotes its messages through various channels. The party created a global television news network, CGTN – its answer to CNN or the BBC. He financed the expansion of the global news agency Xinhua, which operates abroad, promoting its content to foreign newspapers.
He also increasingly uses secret deals of social media influencers.
Spread “positive energy”
Xi and other party leaders have frequently emphasized the need to “tell China’s story well” and spread “positive energy” to the country, both at home and abroad.
The central idea is that hope and inspiration sell better than doom and gloom.
It is now clear, however, that the messages of the KKK andthey are really effective.
The study that showed China is convincing
In a study published in the American Journal of Political Science in 2024, people from 19 countries on six continents analyzed data from thousands of videos produced by CGTN. It turned out that the position of those observing them towards China changed drastically.
Although only 16% of respondents initially preferred the Chinese political model of the US political model, after watching CGTN content, 54% moved to China.
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