China in Africa: The use of soft power and its implications for a global peaceful rise

[摘要] ENGLISH ABSTRACT:Soft power is more relevant now than ever before. In fact, in the current world systemit has become an important element in exercising state power and mapping outleadership strategies. This assignment attempts to analyse the use of soft power as apost-Cold War foreign policy strategy on the part of China. Chinese relations with theAfrican continent are assessed to prove the increasing rate at which China hasexpended trade and diplomatic relations in the past two decades, and to determine thedegree to which soft power is contributing to China's prospects of a harmonious riseto a position of global power.China's foreign policy is ideologically underpinned by nationalism and confucianism.This stance is based on the need to protect and promote the economic and socialstability of the state, as well as to secure a sound diplomatic identity in theinternational arena. For this reason, China has expanded economic interests abroad,particularly, looking upon Africa as a source of mutual development and investement,economic cooperation and an enhanced network for trade. This has lead to the growthof 'soft' ties between the Chinese nation and many African states, through theprovision of aid, diplomatic cooperation on policy issues and the sharing of culturalvalues and institutional norms. In this way, China has been able to promote theperception of a peaceful rise to power and make a valuable contribution to theChinese goal of constructing a harmonious world.Concluding a thorough analysis of China's foreign policy behaviour it is determinedthat China-Africa relations are based, at least in part, on soft power, as a means togain increased international influence. This is contended by the likeness between thebehaviour advocated by soft power theory and that of Chinese interaction withAfrican states. Furthermore, this partnership can be understood as a potential globalshift towards multilateralism and the belief in an emerging international order thatorganised by regionalised powers that cooperate with each other on internationalplatforms. The theory of constructivism, particularly its emaphasis on the roles ofideas, identities and institutions, is a valuable perspective to consider in approachingthis discussion of China as a peacefully emerging global power.

[发布机构] Stellenbosch University