Sub-Organizational Contexts of Confucius Institutes: Faculties, Departments, and Centers

This chapter examines the sub-organizational context of Confucius Institutes. It argues that the agendas and priorities of internal stakeholders can substantially influence their operation and strategic positioning. Through an analysis spanning faculties, schools, departments, and research centers—and drawing on my firsthand observations—the chapter explores how Confucius Institutes interact with these internal structures. It demonstrates how faculty-level dynamics, such as leadership ambitions or restructuring efforts, directly impact Confucius Institutes, as well as their complex relationships with language departments and China research centers. Importantly, many of these dynamics are not directly related to China, but instead reflect broader institutional politics—particularly competition over resources and leadership agendas. These internal variables mean that each Confucius Institute operates within a unique institutional ecosystem, shaped by its position within the university hierarchy, its host faculty, and its partnerships with academic departments and research centers.