China’s ‘Stadium Diplomacy’ in West Asia and North Africa

Soft-power Tool for Political and Economic Influence

Bibliographic Data

ID22192052
AuthorsMordechai Chaziza (0000-0003-1256-9694, University of Haifa, corresponding author)
Year2024
Volume18
Issue2
Pages130-148
Publication date2024-04-02
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueAsian Journal of Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 2576-5949 • E-ISSN: 2576-5957
PublisherInforma UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/25765949.2024.2416844
OpenAlexW4404149955
LanguageEN
Citations received4

China’s ‘Stadium Diplomacy’ in West Asia and North Africa (WANA) is a soft power strategy used to increase its regional political and economic influence. This strategy is part of a broader trend in which China increasingly uses soft power tools to project its global influence. Chinese companies are involved in building and funding large-scale sports facilities and stadiums used as venues for major international sports events. By investing in sports infrastructure, China can project an image of economic and technological prowess and gain access to raw materials, mineral resources, and markets while fostering closer diplomatic ties with countries in the region. Nevertheless, there are also concerns that China’s soft power efforts are being used to mask more strategic and geopolitical goals. While stadium diplomacy can be an effective soft power tool for building economic relationships and increasing influence, it must also be scrutinised and understood in the context of China’s broader strategic goals and interests

Business · China · Diplomacy · Economic Diplomacy · Economic system · Economics · Economy · Geography · Geopolitics · International relations · International trade · Political science · Politics · Public Diplomacy · Soft power · Stadium · Sport and Mega-Event Impacts

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