China’s Confucius Institutes without headquarters: an insider’s perspective
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: As the incubator of all Confucius Institutes, the Confucius Institute Headquarters (CIH) was once among the most influential cultural and language organisations in the world. Yet the impact of its dissolution – amid growing controversy in the West – on the governance and operations of Confucius Institutes remains underexplored. Drawing on the author’s experience as a Confucius Institute director who led his institute through this transitional period, this article addresses that gap. It outlines the operational models of Confucius Institutes and examines the evolving roles of key Chinese stakeholders, both under the CIH and within the post-CIH decentralised framework. It argues that this transformation has substantially reshaped the governance of Confucius Institutes, weakening formal ties to the Chinese government and enhancing the institutional independence of individual institutes. This shift towards a decentralised model, however, set in motion a complex and often painful process of administrative adjustment, and it has yet to prove its operational efficiency or secure recognition in the West. This analysis not only contributes to the literature on Confucius Institutes and China’s overseas engagement, but also offers policy insights for decision makers in China and in countries that interact with China on cultural diplomacy.
Source: Third World Quarterly
Author: Jinghan Zeng
Institution: City University of Hong Kong
Language: English
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
OpenAlex ID: W7154701690