In order to figure out your question, you need to think about what you find most interesting in the articles you have read. Furthermore, you want to ask something that isn’t already known (even if the answer is already in the existing data).

One thing that I personally find interesting is the uneasy balance between the ideal of academic freedom on the one hand and the existence of Confucius Institutes on many campuses. You’ve probably read about these already, but there are at least two open questions here.

The obvious one is whether the politically motivated self-censorship that these institutes engage in is something that universities can support without undermining their own values. If they really are propaganda centers, then it seems allowing them on campus is more likely to close minds than open them. Yet shutting them down, especially when they offer resources that may not be available elsewhere, may seem to be a different kind of censorship (or at least a way of cutting students off from some avenues of learning).

The second is what the long term consequences are of allowing these institutes to train future teachers. For one, the training offered may build constraints into the very way that these teachers think (meaning they may self-censor without even realizing it or simply be trained to avoid certain subjects or lines of thought). But also, the power that these institutions have over hiring, firing, and recruitment could lead to only those with a particular mindset being allowed in to begin with. This filtering process is its own kind of censorship.

Chinese influence on the curriculum? Or, Chinese students as a large part of the student body?

I’m assuming this is a question solely about university level, is that correct? Not primary or secondary education.

I’m in the US and I have briefly read some articles making the topic of Chinese influence in universities political. From what I understand some Confucius Institutes are actually funded at least partly by China, please check me on this. That raises suspicions about the intent among some Americans. At the same time, many Americans see understanding Chinese culture and language is important and practical for the future.

In America there has also been books written and and evaluations of the effectiveness of Chinese culture and the success of students, but generally I would say Americans perceive Chinese expectations of students as too strict and overbearing and takes an emotional toll on the student. Although, most of our literature on that pertains to K-12 education.

Not sure if any of that helps.

Personally, I have many concerns about the presence of Chinese influence on our schools.

1. Do they help in suppressing US anger towards China? China has been systematically stealing from the US ever since the Bamboo Curtain was lowered by Nixon. And yet, most people in the US feel that is ok. Why?

2. Are there any parallels with the madrassa concept that the Wahhabis in Saudi Arabia pushed for many years?

3. What exactly are the benefits to the US of the Confucius Institutes?

4. Given the obvious pitfalls (well articulated by @SavoirFaire above), is the cost-benefit analysis at a good place?

@SavoirFaire, @JLeslie and @crazyguy thank you so much for your help! I now know which direction I want to take with my research and research question.

Don’t leave us guessing, what did you decide?

Hahahh sorry! As for my research question, it’s going to be @SavoirFaire‘s “whether the politically motivated self-censorship that these institutes engage in is something that universities can support without undermining their own values, and if so how?” Because like you (@JLeslie) said the Confucius Institutes are funded by China and obviously not without a reason, so yeah there’s indeed an uneasy balance between the ideal of academic freedom and the existence of Confucius Institutes. Cultural exchange bridge, or propaganda mission..? Oh and in my research, I want to add @crazyguy‘s idea of a cost-benefit analysis.

@xxxxxx What country are you in?

@JLeslie the Netherlands

@xxxxxx Welcome to fluther. We hope you stick around.