African Constructions of China: Insights from Ghana and Kenya

This book explores African constructions of China, highlighting the role of diverse state and non-state actors in defining China's identity and comparing it to Western powers. It emphasizes the importance of African agency in shaping the discourse and questions the idea of a straightforward win-win relationship in South-South relations.

Format: Hardback
Length: 218 pages
Publication date: 12 December 2023
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

Resisting Sino- and state-centric analysis of China-Africa relations, this book emphasizes the importance of African agency in shaping the discourse. The book demonstrates that the identity construction of a foreign state such as China takes place both at the international level and at a domestic, intrastate level. Domestic constructions of China in Ghana and Kenya reflect internal tensions about future directions for African political and socioeconomic development, and these constructions, in turn, help to justify government policies towards China. The book concludes by questioning the idea of a straightforward win-win relationship and suggests that exploitative, hierarchical relations conventionally associated with North-South interactions may continue in South-South relations.

This book's important analysis of the role of domestic non-state actors in shaping African policymaking extends much needed nuance to a sometimes polarised debate. It will be of interest to researchers across the fields of politics, international relations, global development, and African and Chinese Studies.

Weight: 603g
Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781032613536