Abstract
This article describes Chinese peacebuilding efforts in Liberia and presents views expressed by Monrovians as assessment of projections of Chinese soft-power in post-conflict Liberia. Monrovians are overwhelmingly positive towards China, which is represented by Chinese construction companies who have been the mainstay of infrastructure rehabilitation in this small, West African state recovering from civil war. As a part of the Chinese practice of peacebuilding and central to its soft-power projection in Africa, we can tentatively regard the strategy of infrastructure led aid and peacebuilding to have achieved its objectives.
Highlights
Beijing conducts its foreign policy, provides aid and participates in United Nations Peacekeeping Operations (UNPKOs) in order to promote its national interests
On the issue of the widespread perception that Chinese firms carry out poor quality work in Africa, the engineer pointed out that the emergency road in Liberia is a problem and the Chinese are good at infrastructure [...] the Chinese work in the communities and interact with the people, and this is different from the standard Western aid workers.”7
© Centre for Chinese Studies, Stellenbosch University All Rights Reserved. http://aeaa.journals.ac.za refreshing information on Chinese developmental assistance in Africa which has remained far more consistent in its guiding principles and practices compared with western aid
Summary
As a part of the Chinese practice of peacebuilding and central to its soft-power projection in Africa, we can tentatively regard the strategy of infrastructure-led aid and peacebuilding to have achieved its objectives. Beijing conducts its foreign policy, provides aid and participates in United Nations Peacekeeping Operations (UNPKOs) in order to promote its national interests.
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