Comments On American Cultural Diplomacy Towards China (1933-1949)

This thesis first begins with defining cultural diplomacy. The characteristics of cultural diplomacy, the ways to achieve the role of cultural diplomacy as well as the functions of cultural diplomacy have been analyzed on one hand. On the other hand, the cultural diplomacy has been compared and distinguished with outreach, public diplomacy, to-people diplomacy and a number of traditional concepts of diplomacy. The historical origin of cultural diplomacy in the United States has been discussed. The religious factor is the first military and stimulants for the United States to carry out the cultural diplomacy to China. The United States' expansionist culture and the concept of the "exceptionalism" political culture in USA have been explained. The theoretical basis and the mechanism of strategic cultural diplomacy have been reviewed. Based on the cultural diplomacy during the period between 1933 and 1949, the Sino-US cultural exchanges before the thirties of the twentieth century and their impacts have been briefly reviewed at first. Secondly, the following parts have been analyzed in detail, which include the policy towards China of the U.S. president Roosevelt, the special role of China in the U.S. global strategy during the war and the post-war time and later on the Truman Administration's China policy. The specific means of U.S. cultural diplomacy towards China from 1933 to 1949 have been detailed described. The motives and the objectives of U.S. cultural diplomacy and the impacts on both sides have been revealed by analysis of a list of specific data. Impact on the U.S. side: a large number of pro-American elites were trained in China; the academic understanding of China was received from credible first-hand information for the United States. The impact on the Chinese side: the scientific and democratic ideas were brought into China; the scientific and technological exchanges were promoted between China and the United States.