Monday, December 3, 2018

A South African Intellectual Compares American and Chinese Soft Power

The Daily Maverick published on 28 November 2018 a commentary titled "China's Soft Power Influence and Hegemony Building--A New Way for South Africa?" by Oscar Van Heerden.

A South African who has made government-sponsored trips to both the United States and China discusses the influence of China's soft power in Africa today. He concludes that the United States is crumbling and on its last legs while China is seemingly on the rise. He asks if the solution is socialism with South African characteristics? The problem with his analysis is that he seems to attribute soft power primarily with the role of governments. The strength of American soft power was and still is outside government; China is still struggling with this concept.