Theories and practice of “soft power”: Their relevance for China (as a rising power) in its relationship with African states By FARHANA PARUK Submitted in accordance with the requirements for the degree of DOCTOR OF LITERATURE AND PHILOSOPHY In the subject INTERNATIONAL POLITICS At the UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH AFRICA PROMOTOR: Prof Dirk Kotzé November 2014 ~ 1 ~ ABSTRACT This study emphasizes the role of soft power in China’s relations with Africa. It attempts to explore and interpret China’s role in Africa from Joseph Nye’s perspective of soft power and Realism in general. China’s foreign policy is ideologically underpinned by nationalism. In the past two decades, it is based on the need to protect its national interest, by expanding trade and diplomatic relations. For this reason, China has expanded economic interest in Africa by means of mutual development and investment, economic cooperation and trade. This has led to the growth of ‘soft’ ties between China and Africa, through the provision of aid and diplomatic cooperation. By using ‘soft power’ as a vehicle to promote the perception of a peaceful rise to power, it also makes a valuable contribution to the Chinese goal of constructing a harmonious world. Based on the research, the conclusion is that China has achieved impressive gains in its overall level of soft power in Africa, especially in economic and political aspects of its relationship with Africa and less in its cultural penetrations. Key words: China and Africa, soft power, Joseph Nye, Realism, economic soft power, political soft power ~ 2 ~ I declare that Theories and practice of “soft power”: Their relevance for China (as a arising power) in its relationship with African states is my own work and that all the sources that I have used or quoted have been indicated and acknowledged by means of complete references. ________________________ _____________________ SIGNATURE DATE Ms Farhana Paruk ~ 3 ~ TABLE OF CONTENT ABSTRACT ..........................................................................................................................................2 List of Figures .....................................................................................................................................8 List of Abbreviations ..........................................................................................................................9 CHAPTER ONE: ................................................................................................................................. 12 INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................................... 12 1.1 Introduction ....................................................................................................................................... 12 1.2 Motivation for the study .............................................................................................................. 14 1.3 Literature review ......................................................................................................................... 16 1.4 Research question ....................................................................................................................... 22 1.5 The study’s objectives ................................................................................................................. 23 1.6 The theoretical framework .......................................................................................................... 23 1.7 The limitations of this study........................................................................................................ 24 1.8 Research methodology ................................................................................................................ 26 1.8.1 ........................................................................................................................................................ 26 1.8.2 Interview methodology ........................................................................................................... 27 1.8.3 Research conducted at Harvard ............................................................................................... 30 1.9 Structure of the study .................................................................................................................. 30 1.10 Concluding Remarks ................................................................................................................... 32 CHAPTER TWO: ................................................................................................................................34 THEORETICAL AND CONCEPTUAL BACKGROUND ............................................................................... 34 2.1. Introduction ................................................................................................................................ 34 2.2 Realism: National interest as a key component .......................................................................... 34 2.2.1 Neo-realism ......................................................................................................................... 37 2.2.2 National Interests ................................................................................................................ 38 2.2.3 Defining power (Realism and Neo-realism) ........................................................................ 40 2.2.4 Attribute Power Approach .................................................................................................. 43 2.2.5 Relational Power Approach ................................................................................................ 44 2.2.6 Structural Power Approach ................................................................................................ 45 ~ 4 ~ 2.2.7 Multidimensional Power Approach .................................................................................... 45 2.3 Joseph Nye’s Soft Power ............................................................................................................ 46 2.3.1 Political values ..................................................................................................................... 54 2.3.2 Criticism of Joseph Nye’s Soft Power .................................................................................. 57 2.4 Economic Nationalism ................................................................................................................ 60 2.5 ‘Rising Power’ as a manifestation of power relations ................................................................ 62 2.6 Chapter Conclusion ..................................................................................................................... 67 CHAPTER THREE: .............................................................................................................................. 69 HISTORICAL VIEW OF CHINA AND AFRICA ......................................................................................... 69 3.1 A Short history of China .............................................................................................................. 69 3.2 The Opium Wars ......................................................................................................................... 70 3.3 Mao and Revolutionary China..................................................................................................... 71 3.4 Deng Xiaoping and the ‘Opening’ and Reforms in China ............................................................ 72 3.5 Period of Isolation between China and Africa 1949-1955 .......................................................... 75 3.6 Bandung Conference – revival period for China and Africa ........................................................ 76 3.7 Deng Xiaoping’s “open door” policy towards Africa .................................................................. 80 3.8 China’s ‘Going out Strategy’ ........................................................................................................ 82 CHAPTER FOUR: ............................................................................................................................... 84 THE INTERACTION BETWEEN CHINA’S STATUS AS A RISING POWER AND ITS USE OF SOFT POWER ..... 84 4.1 Introduction ................................................................................................................................ 84 4.2 Discussions of Soft Power in China ............................................................................................. 86 4.3 China as a Rising Power .............................................................................................................. 90 4.4 Rise to power ............................................................................................................................. 93 4.5 Peaceful Rise and Development ................................................................................................. 95 4.6 Peaceful Development (Heping Fazhan)..................................................................................... 98 4.7 Harmonious world ...................................................................................................................... 99 4.8 Chapter Summary .................................................................................................................... 101 CHAPTER FIVE: ..............................................................................................................................