Organizational Contexts of Confucius Institutes (I): The Strategic Value for Host Universities

This chapter, together with the following two, examines the organizational contexts in which Confucius Institutes operate. These contexts constitute the immediate environments within which the Institutes are embedded. Almost all Confucius Institutes function as joint partnerships, meaning they are shaped as much—if not more—by local organizational dynamics as by Chinese actors. In most cases, the decisions made within Confucius Institutes are driven less by directives from China and more by the specific conditions and priorities of their host institutions. Collectively, these chapters argue that while geopolitical and broader Chinese contexts are important, organizational contexts represent the most immediate and critical factors shaping the development and operation of Confucius Institutes. This chapter focuses specifically on the strategic value of Confucius Institutes for host universities. In explaining the operation of Confucius Institutes, most existing analyses have concentrated on the intentions of Chinese stakeholders—such as promoting soft power, shaping national image, and advancing propaganda—while overlooking the crucial perspective of host universities. For these institutions, such objectives are often of limited interest. Instead, their engagement is primarily motivated by distinct institutional priorities, particularly their internationalization strategies with regard to China. Without incorporating this host organizational perspective, any discussion of Confucius Institutes remains partial and incomplete.