‘Respect’ and ‘agency’ as driving forces for China–Africa relations

Abstract

Relations between China and African countries have blossomed in recent years. This paper uses the theory of respect and recognition in social and political philosophy to examine how China is engaging with African countries within the context of two specific instruments of China’s public diplomacy. While pursuing its self-interest, China has anchored its engagements with African countries on a peculiar brand of public diplomacy encapsulated in the rhetoric of non-intervention in Africa’s domestic affairs, as well as the symbolism of frequent and reciprocal official visits by the highest political leaders and bureaucrats from China and African states. These characteristics, which are perceived by Africans as China’s show of equality-based respect for African countries, have facilitated China–Africa relations. Using the emerging dynamic of China–Africa relations, this paper affirms the proposition that given asymmetric information on the real motivations of nations in adopting specific foreign policy, it is perception that determines how one party responds to signals from the other.