American Cultural Diplomacy Towards China In Clinton’s Administration

American cultural diplomacy has a long history, almost as old as the country. However, it was comparatively new for American government to get involved in this field. American cultural diplomacy has also developed with the history and manifested different characteristics in different times. The underlying logic of American cultural diplomacy is Manifest Destiny and Idealism. The United States started to make cultural contacts with China in the late nineteenth century and American cultural diplomacy towards China experienced four periods in history, namely, period of tentative contact; period of all-round involvement; period of suspension and period of revival and strengthening. Clinton’s cultural diplomacy towards China was carried out on three levels:exportation of cultural products; expansion of educational and cultural exchanges; transformation of ideological struggle. There were both positive influences and negative impacts of Clinton’s cultural diplomacy on China. There are four causes for Clinton to carry out his cultural diplomacy towards China. They include ideological cause, theoretical cause, historical cause and environmental cause. It is hoped that through an analysis of Clinton’s cultural diplomacy towards China, some references can be offered for China’s cultural strategy.