Enhancing China’s National Image Through Culture Festivals: A Case Study of China Culture Years in Europe

Since the mid-2000s, the PRC has increasingly focused on pursuing cultural diplomacy abroad to improve its national image and enhance cultural soft power. Although China’s cultural “Charm Offensive” has not gone unnoticed, a variety of specific activities have not been subject to research so far. This paper, therefore, attempts to fill this research gap by analyzing Chinese state-level cultural diplomacy through a comparative case study of three China Culture Year events held in France (2004), Italy (2010), and Germany (2012). These findings are subsequently compared to the China Culture Year in Australia (2012), thereby allowing the identification of spatial variations. I argue that the Chinese government applies a general approach of organizing the events abroad by making use of local institutions. At the same time, through the strategic selection of events, the festivals portray distinct national images that transmit particular narratives of self-presentation to the European audience and take into account country-specific preferences

Harnessing tourism as a means of poverty alleviation: using the right language or achieving outcomes?

Scarcely considered before the turn of the century, the concept of pro-poor tourism, or harnessing tourism as a means of poverty alleviation, is now familiar and widespread on the global development agenda. The hypothesis that one of the world's largest sectors – tourism – can share in the responsibility of resolving one of the world's greatest challenges - poverty – is extolled under varying banners. Yet, what do we understand of the notion that is pro-poor tourism? How is it explicated and executed, by whom, and to what effect? This paper explores the evolution of pro-poor tourism and its contemporaries, and examines its recent yet ostensibly warm reception by national and international development agencies. It then provides details of two case studies in an effort to determine whether pro-poor tourism is about adopting the right language or achieving outcomes

Influence of external environmental factors on the success of public housing projects in developing countries

External environmental factors, which include political environment, economic environment and social environment, affect the success of public housing projects in developing countries. The purpose of this paper is to establish the effect of these factors on public housing project success using structural equation modelling (SEM) techniques. The study was conducted in Nigeria by means of interviews, a pilot study and a main survey. Five hundred and fifty (550) questionnaires were administered to construction professionals who work as developers, consultants or contractors and those working in public housing agencies. Two hundred and seventy-six (276) questionnaires were returned completed. The data collected were analysed by means of SEM. The results reveal that (i) the economics factor significantly affects public housing project success, (ii) the social factor significantly affects public housing project success, and (iii) the political factor significantly affects public housing project success. The study developed a comprehensive model that can assist housing policy makers, consultants, developers, contractors and other stakeholders in the planning and development of public housing programme