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China’s Cultural Industries in the Face of Trade Liberalization: An Analytical Framework for China’s Cultural Policy

Chen, Xiaolu

Abstract Details

2009, Master of Arts, Ohio State University, Arts Policy and Administration.

The distinctive characteristics of cultural products have caused considerable on-going international debate on free trade. Should cultural goods be treated just like other commodities or should they be protected for the sake of cultural diversity? This article explores the rationale of the cultural exception strategy underlying the discourse of free trade negotiation, with particular attention to the case of China’s cultural industries, in which cultural goods and products have received special treatment compared to other commodities. By analyzing the specific commitment made by China in WTO agreements, and framing up the measures that have been utilized by Chinese policymakers to promote cultural industries, this study addresses two major questions: how did the Chinese government construct and adjust its cultural industrial polices in the face of WTO entry and free-trade negotiation? And what factors have prompted the Chinese government to fashion its cultural industrial policy into its current shape?

The result of the research shows that China has taken a paradoxical position with regard to the cultural industries: on one hand, the Chinese government has pursued ambitious policies to support the development of cultural industries as part of a more general interest in promoting economic growth. On the other hand, the Chinese administration remains reluctant to open up its domestic cultural markets to global competition, which to certain degree restricts the development of China’s cultural industries. To explore the cause of the paradox in China’s cultural industries, the study draws on Kingdon’s policy window model to frame up China’s cultural industrial policy development through three streams: 1) problem stream, 2) policy stream, 3) politics stream. Based on Kingdon’s model, the researcher presents an analytical framework for China’s cultural industrial policies, which reveals that the current shape of China’s cultural industries and cultural policies is an outcome of the transitional nature of the Chinese society. In the end a new phase of China’s cultural industrialization will be introduced, predicting challenges and opportunities that could affect the future development of China’s cultural industries.

Margaret Wyszomirski, PhD (Advisor)
Wayne Lawson, PhD (Committee Member)
119 p.

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Chen, X. (2009). China’s Cultural Industries in the Face of Trade Liberalization: An Analytical Framework for China’s Cultural Policy [Master's thesis, Ohio State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1253553429

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Chen, Xiaolu. China’s Cultural Industries in the Face of Trade Liberalization: An Analytical Framework for China’s Cultural Policy. 2009. Ohio State University, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1253553429.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Chen, Xiaolu. "China’s Cultural Industries in the Face of Trade Liberalization: An Analytical Framework for China’s Cultural Policy." Master's thesis, Ohio State University, 2009. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1253553429

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)