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Africa-China relations: Symmetry and Soft Power

Africa-China relations: Symmetry and Soft Power . Adams Bodomo University of Hong Kong abbodomo@hku.hk Talk at African Studies Institute, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua, May 14, 2009. Abstract. Africa-China relations have not reached an apogee but they have gathered steam.

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Africa-China relations: Symmetry and Soft Power

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  1. Africa-China relations: Symmetry and Soft Power Adams Bodomo University of Hong Kong abbodomo@hku.hk Talk at African Studies Institute, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua, May 14, 2009

  2. Abstract • Africa-China relations have not reached an apogee but they have gathered steam. • Two important issues within this steam are whether the relationship between the two parts of the world is symmetrical or asymmetrical and the exact role of soft power in this constellation. • This paper takes positions in the arguments and proposes that prominent economies on the African continent such as South Africa have an important role to play in ensuring a symmetrical relationship in which Africa can also take part in a symmetrical cultural diplomacy with China, such as in the setting up of Mandela Institutes in China.

  3. Content • 1. Introduction • 2. A Golden Era of Africa-China relations • 3. Is the Relationship Asymmetrical? • 4. Soft power • 5. The Role of South Africa and others • 6. Conclusion

  4. 1. Introduction • When exactly did Africa-China relations begin? • The travels of Admiral Zhang He of Yunnan in the Ming dynasty (in the 1400s) to Africa • The Bandung conference of 1955 • Whatever… • Africa-China relations have suddenly gathered steam within the last 10 years • High-level travels by Chinese leaders to African capitals and high level travels by African leaders to Beijing • Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC)

  5. Questions • Why is it that this relationship has all of a sudden gathered momentum? What are the major issues involved in this momentum? • Who is driving the relationship? Are there equal benefits or is the relationship skewed in an asymmetrical fashion to the benefit of one partner over the other? • If there is this tendency how can one redress this? What is the role of soft power or cultural diplomacy as a solution to this?

  6. 2. A Golden Era of Africa-China relations • Three main facts indicate that Africa-China relations have begun a golden era. • 1. Very high level political visits and meeting at ministerial and even Head of State level involving the Chinese and African governments • 2. Trade has increased to such an extent that China is now the third largest trading partner to Africa • 3. Rapid establishment of African and Chinese migrant communities on both continents (Large ,2008; Bertoncello and Bredeloup, 2007; Bodomo, 2007a, 2007b & 2008; Li, 2007)

  7. 3. Is the Relationship Asymmetrical? • Africa-China relations are asymmetrical in favour of China – esp from Western sources • Asymmetrical nomenclature • Trade, economic and investment asymmetry • Political asymmetry?

  8. Asymmetrical nomenclature • CNKI (29th October 2008): • Africa-China ("feizhongguanxi"): No paper • China-Africa ("zhongfeiguanxi"): 336 papers (from 1979-2008) • ISI (30th October): • Africa-China: No paper • China-Africa: One paper (Large 2008) • SCOPUS (30th October): • Africa-China: One paper (Anonymous, 1976) • China-Africa: Four papers (George 1965, King 2007, Naidu 2007 and Large 2007)

  9. Trade, economic and investment asymmetry • China (along with India for that matter) invests more in Africa than Africa invests in China (Broadman, 2007) • Broadman cautions: “It is imperative that both sides of this promising South-South economic relations address asymmetries and obstacles to its continuous expansion through reforms.” • I argue that this purported asymmetry is rather exaggerated.

  10. Political asymmetry? • It is sometimes argued that because China is a huge country with a large population of more than 1.3 billion, its relations with an Africa fragmented into 50 plus nations is necessarily and logically asymmetrical? • Not necessarily… • Despite having 53 independent countries, African countries often vote mostly en bloc on topical international issues. • E.g. China got the Beijing Olympics awarded it because of an “en bloc” vote by Africa during the IOC decision-making process.

  11. Political asymmetry? • Counter-argument • Africa-China relations are asymmetrical in favour of Africa on the political front because of Africa’s massive voting clout at the UN and other international bodies like the IOC and the WTO • In terms of geopolitics Africa wields some considerable political power that China even benefits from, just as Africa benefits from China’s economic aid and investments in Africa

  12. 4. Soft Power • As Dr Liu Haifang of the Chinese Academy of Social Science has succinctly captured in an excellent article (Liu 2008), soft power is the term that Chinese scholars tend to prefer to use as a designation for cultural diplomacy which is defined as “...that aspect of diplomacy that involves a government’s efforts to transmit its national culture to foreign publics with the goal of bringing about an understanding of national ideals and institutions as part of a larger attempt to build support for political and economic goals.” (Maack 2001: 3, quoted in Liu 2008) • Western commentators prefer to use the term “charm offensive” (Kurlantzick 2007)

  13. Confucius Institutes • A prominent feature of China’s cultural diplomacy or soft power • More than 20 such institutes out of 300 worldwide have been opened or will soon be opened throughout Africawhich teach Chinese language and culture. • This focus helps Africa-China relations to move away from the skewed economic focus • But there is a danger of creating an asymmetry if Africa does nothing in return • Where is Africa’s diplomatic policy towards China? • What role can South Africa as Africa’s most advanced economy play in the search for a symmetry in Africa-China relations?

  14. 5. The Role of South Africa • South Africa is already playing a leading role in advancing Africa-China relations only after 10 years of diplomatic relations with Beijing, since January 1998. • A little known fact: South African firms have been more successful in penetrating the Chinese markets than Chinese firms in establishing themselves on the South African market.

  15. The following report by the China Business Frontier (April 2008) newsletter testifies to this: • “What followed (since the start of diplomatic relations in January 1998) was an initial rush of Chinese investment into the country…However, a general lack of local market knowledge, inexperienced management and a vastly different business culture all contributed to failure of these companies.”

  16. The paper continues: • “In contrast, South African corporations have been extremely successful in penetrating the often challenging China market. A handful of firms have been “industry shapers” in the Chinese economy – after entering the market in 1994, SAB Miller became the largest brewer by volume in China last year, Naspers is a leading media player…: and Sasol could soon become the single largest investor in China if it goes ahead with two coal-to-liquid gas projects in China.”

  17. Mandela Institutes • African countries should aim at setting up African Cultural Institutions in China • For South Africa, I propose that the most apt designation should be the Mandela Institute: • Teaching South African languages and cultures and spreading Mandela’s policy of rapproachment between races and all peoples of the world • African governments can collaborate with Chinese government and Chinese Universities to promote African Studies by setting up MoUs. • The new University of Hong Kong African Studies Programme (www.hku.hk/AfricanStudies) and similar programmes in mainland China have an important role to play given the right intergovernmental support.

  18. 6. Conclusion • Two important notions within contemporary Africa-China relations: • symmetry and soft power • I have argued that the notion that Africa-China relations are asymmetrical in favour of China is a largely exaggerated notion • Instead, I have shown that the relationship is thus largely symbiotic and mutually beneficial: • Africa has shown enough political muscle to counterbalance international decisions in favour of China • China is helping Africa through aid and favourable investments • Soft power or cultural diplomacy offers a promising path to an equilibrium • South Africa has an important role to play in ensuring a symmetrical relationship.

  19. References • Anonymous. 1976. East Africa - Afro-Chinese brotherhood. Intereconomics 11 (1), pp. 5. • Bertoncello, Brigitte and Sylvie Bredeloup. 2007.“The emergence of new African “trading posts” in Hong Kong and Guangzhou,”China Perspectives, No.1, pp 94 – 105. • Bodomo, A. B. 2008. Africa-China relations in an era of globalization: the role of African trading communities in China. Invited Paper, Symposium on China-Africa Cooperation in the Context of Globalization, Shanxi University, Taiyuan, October 15 - 19, 2008 • Bodomo A.B, 2007a. “An emerging African-Chinese community in Hong Kong: the case of Tsim Sha Tsui's Chungking Mansions,”in Kwesi Kwaa Prah (ed), Afro-Chinese Relations: Past, Present and Future. Cape Town, South Africa, The Centre for Advanced Studies in African Societies, pp.367-389. • Bodomo, A. B, 2007b. “The emergence of African communities in Hong Kong and mainland China,” Invited Paper for Africa Table, Stanford University African Studies Centre, May 23rd, 2007. • Broadman, Harry. 2007. Africa’s Silk Road: China and India’s New Economic Frontier. World Bank • China Frontier Advisory. 2008. China Business Frontier, April 2008 • George, T.Y. 1965. Sino-Africa Relations: A survey. Asian Survey 5 (7), pp. 330. • King, K. 2007. The Beijing China-Africa summit of 2006: The new pledges of aid to education in Africa China Report 43 (3), pp. 337-347. • Kurlantzick, Joshua. 2007. Charm offensive: How China’s Soft Power is Transforming the World, New haven: Yale University Press • Large, D. 2008. Beyond ‘dragon in the bush’: The study of China-Africa relations. African Affairs Vol 107, Issue 426 pp 45 -61. • Large, D. 2007. A 'Chinese scramble'? The politics of contemporary China-Africa relations. African Affairs 106 (422), pp. 141-143 • Li Zhigang, Xue Desheng, Michael Lyons, and Alison Brown,“Ethnic enclave of transnational migrants in urban China : A case study of Xiaobei, Guangzhou”(2008) (paper draft). • Liu Haifang. 2008. China-Africa relations through the prism of culture – The dynamics of China’s cultural diplomacy with Africa. Journal of Current Chinese Affairs No 3, pp 9 – 43 • Maack, Mary Niles. 2001. “Books and Libraries as Instruments of Cultural Diplomacy in Fancophone Africa during the Cold War”, in: Libraries and Culture, vol 36, no 1, Winter, pp. 58-86 • Naidu, S. 2007. The Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC): What does the future hold? China Report 43 (3), pp. 283-296

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