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The Evolution of China-South Africa Relations: a Constructivist Interpretation

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The Evolution of China-South Africa Relations: a Constructivist Interpretation The Evolution of China-South Africa Relations: A Constructivist Interpretation By Emmanuel Matambo A dissertation submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Masters of Social Science in Political Science. Cluster of International and Public Affairs, College of Humanities, School of Social Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa June 2014 Supervisor: Dr. Khondlo Mtshali Contents Acknowledgements and dedication i Declaration ii Abstract iii Acronyms v Epigraph vii CHAPTER ONE: General Introduction Background 1 Outline of the Research Problem 3 Research Hypothesis 4 Reasons for choosing this study 5 Key questions to be asked 7 Objectives 7 Broader issues to be investigated 8 Research methodology 8 Limitations of Research 10 Structure of dissertation 11 CHAPTER TWO: Preliminary literature study and theoretical framework Introduction 12 International relations and the Concept of foreign policy 12 Realism in International Relations 14 China under the Realist Prism 18 China and Africa 22 China-South Africa Relations 26 Justification for a New Approach of Understanding China’s International Relations 30 Conclusion for Literature Review 33 Theoretical Framework: Constructivism General Understanding of Constructivism 37 The Influence of Identities and Interests in the Formation of International Relations 41 Rationale behind the use of Constructivism for this Research 43 Conclusion 44 CHAPTER THREE: The epochs of China-South Africa relations Introduction 47 The First Epoch of China-South Africa Relations: During Mao Zedong’s Rule 48 Mao’s PRC and the Original Principles of International Relations 50 The PRC, Apartheid and Liberation Movements 52 Effects of the Sino-Soviet Split on the PRC’s relations with South African liberation movements 54 Second Epoch of the PRC’s and South Africa’s international relations: After Mao 59 China’s Foreign and Economic System under Deng Xiaoping 59 Sino-South African Relations after the Cold War and the institution of Democracy in South Africa 65 China-South Africa Relations from 1990 to 1994 66 Sino-South African Relations during South Africa’s first post-apartheid government 68 The third epoch of Sino-South African Relations 71 Current Economic Relations between China and South Africa 73 Political Relations in the third epoch of Sino-South African Relations 77 Thabo Mbeki and South Africa’s Foreign Policy Ideal of African Renaissance 78 South Africa, China and South-South Cooperation 80 Conclusion 84 CHAPTER FOUR: A Constructivist Interpretation of Sino-South Africa Relations Introduction 85 Analysing the Changing Identities and interests of China 85 China’s International Identity and shifts in foreign policy 87 South Africa’s Changing Identities and Foreign Policy 91 Sino-South African Relations: Why and How South Africa and China Cooperate 95 Conclusion 103 CHAPTER FIVE: Conclusion and Recommendations Brief Introduction and Recommendations 106 Conclusion 108 Bibliography 111 News Articles and Magazines 127 Acknowledgements and dedication My greatest appreciation goes to Dr. Khondlo Mtshali who has been my biggest academic influence for almost two years. I appreciate the fact that after helping me with the thesis for my honours degree, he also offered to guide me through this dissertation. The academic material that he introduced me to, the patience he exercised throughout my struggle with this project, and the sound advice he gave me have helped to transform this work from an aspiration to a tangible contribution to the study of international relations. My deepest affection goes to my mother, my two sisters and my two brothers who have endured my absence of more than two years from home with unwavering fortitude. I would also like to register my happiness for the latest addition to our family, Chileshe Mwila, a beloved nephew that I am yet to meet. I would also like to thank my many relatives for their enduring support. I would also like to remember my father, Joseph Matambo Nkosi who died on 10 May 2001; he would have been proud that I have reached thus far in my academic ambition, however modest this achievement might be. To my many friends, too numerous to be mentioned, I extend a pledge of appreciation for their support and humour. Without these heroic individuals, I would not have weathered the storms that have come my way. Lastly, I would like to thank the School of Social Sciences of the University of KwaZulu-Natal for the financial and academic sponsorship that it has rendered to me throughout the duration of my studies. I dedicate this research to my elder sister – Lontia Bertha Matambo, who, to all intents and purposes, has been more than a sister to me. i Declaration I, , declare that 1. The research reported in this thesis, except where otherwise indicated, is my original research. 2. This thesis has not been submitted for any degree or examination at any other university. 3. This thesis does not contain other persons’ data, pictures, graphs or other information, unless specifically acknowledged as being sourced from other persons. 4. This thesis does not contain other persons' writing, unless specifically acknowledged as being sourced from other researchers. Where other written sources have been quoted, then: a. Their words have been re-written but the general information attributed to them has been referenced b. Where their exact words have been used, then their writing has been placed in italics and inside quotation marks, and referenced. 5. This thesis does not contain text, graphics or tables copied and pasted from the Internet, unless specifically acknowledged, and the source being detailed in the thesis and in the References sections. _______________________________ Name of Candidate _______________________________ Signature _______________________________ Date _______________________________ Name of Supervisor _______________________________ Signature _______________________________ Date ii Abstract The rise of China in the international system and its involvement in Africa has attracted a lot of attention and speculation. Western perceptions of China’s involvement in Africa are fraught with concerns that a more powerful, undemocratic China will not compel odious African governments to heed Western calls for better governance. China’s foreign policy of “non-interference” in domestic affairs has been criticised as China’s ploy to perpetuate its poor record of human rights; and provide alternatives to countries that are under Western sanctions. Another concern is that China is challenging Western economic dominance in Africa. Thus, the West regards China’s incursions into Africa with suspicion and paranoia. The wide use of realism to explain international relations is hugely responsible for the pessimistic attitude towards the rise of China. In realist perspectives, the rise of China will unavoidably disrupt the current international order and portend possible disaster for other international actors. This research uses constructivism, a relatively underutilized theory of international relations, to analyse relations between China and South Africa. The reasons for this undertaking are manifold. First, by looking at relations between the two countries, the research shows that nations relate according to specific social contexts, from which stem shared identities and interests. Second, the research seeks to illustrate, by dividing Sino-South African relations into three epochs, that China and South Africa have visibly changed their identities and interests since the mid-twentieth century. This shows that, contrary to realism, national identities and interests are subject to change. Third, the fact that China and South Africa perceive each other as allies in the current international system reinforces the constructivist claim that when identities and interests between actors in the international system correlate, the formation of genuine cooperation, community and international interests becomes possible. This is a further departure from realism which claims that cooperation among “self- interested” actors is difficult if not impossible to achieve. Furthermore, much literature about China looks at China as a country with an enduring and unchangeable identity. It is hoped that through the use of constructivism, this notion will be put to credible scrutiny. The research emphasizes the fact that South Africa should not be fanatic in its embrace of China as a kindred spirit of the global South and a better alternative to Western countries. The paranoia of the West is as misplaced as African naiveté in dealing with China. This caveat will also prove that constructivism is not an idealistic approach to international relations. It iii concedes the fact that cooperation and mutual development among nations can be hard to attain when social relations provide no conducive environment for their nurturance. iv Acronyms AGOA African Growth and Opportunity Act ANC African National Congress AU African Union BRICS Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa CCP Chinese Communist Party COSATU Congress of South African Trade Unions CPSU Communist Party of the Soviet Union DRC Democratic Republic of Congo EU European Union FOCAC Forum for China-Africa Cooperation G20 Group of Twenty G8 Group of Eight GEAR Growth Employment and Redistribution Programme ICBC Industrial and Commercial Bank of China IDASA Institute for a Democratic Alternative for South Africa IFI International Financial Institutions IMF International Monetary Fund IR International
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