UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones August 2015 Chinese Soft power, Africa, and the United Nations General Assembly Rayna Martinez University of Nevada, Las Vegas, martir2@unlv.edu Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalscholarship.edu/thesesdissertations Part of the International Relations Commons Repository Citation Martinez, Rayna, "Chinese Soft power, Africa, and the United Nations General Assembly" (2015). UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones.edu/thesesdissertations/2490 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by Digital Scholarship@UNLV. It has been accepted for inclusion in UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones by an authorized administrator of Digital Scholarship@UNLV. For more information, please contact digitalscholarship@unlv.
CHINESE SOFT POWER, AFRICA, AND THE UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY By Rayna Martinez Bachelor of Science in Social Science Portland State University 2011 A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Master of Arts - Political Science Department of Political Science College of Liberal Arts The Graduate College University of Nevada, Las Vegas August 2015 Thesis Approval The Graduate College The University of Nevada, Las Vegas July 28, 2015 This thesis prepared by Rayna Martinez entitled Chinese Soft Power, Africa, and the United Nations General Assembly is approved in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts – Political Science Department of Political Science Jonathan Strand, Ph. Kathryn Hausbeck Korgan, Ph. Examination Committee Chair Graduate College Interim Dean John Tuman, Ph. Examination Committee Member Michele Kuenzi, Ph.
Examination Committee Member Lein Lein Chen, Ph. Graduate College Faculty Representative ii Abstract Sino-Africa relations has become a topic of immense interest within the field of international relations. In particular, China’s use of “soft power” in order to support its peaceful rise in the international arena. Originally coined by American political scientist Joseph Nye (1990) the term “soft power” is the ability for a state to get what it wants without threat or coercion.
The application of a Western theory by the PRC is worthy of further study and analysis. Recent scholarship within Chinese and Western academic circles have looked more closely at China’s soft power utility and how it promotes Nye’s pillars of soft power (culture, political values, and foreign policies). Specifically, where China’s soft power practices are in line with Nye’s (1990) original theory and where it deviates. This thesis will look at how China has built its soft power in Africa and how China utilizes that power.
Furthermore, this thesis examines the question of whether China receives greater political support in the United Nations General Assembly from Africa governments with which it has close aid, investment, and trade relationships. Using descriptive statistics and correlation models, this study finds that although China’s relationship with Africa grows exponentially this does not necessarily produce more soft power efficacy for China. iii Acknowledgements It is impossible to thank sufficiently everyone who has helped guide me through my course here at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. First, I would like to express my gratitude to Dr.
Jonathan Strand for his assistance, patience, and guidance as the Political Science Graduate Coordinator and serving as my committee chair. I would also like to thank other members of my committee: Dr. John Tuman, Dr. Michele Kuenzi, and Dr.
Lein-Lein Chen, for their input, knowledge, and assistance as I completed my thesis. Also, I would also like to thank Melissa Rodriguez, I greatly appreciate your generosity, willingness, and encouragement to all students in the MA program. On a personal note, I would like to thank my family. I am incredibly fortunate to have parents who give unconditional love and support to me.
Mom and Rene, thank you for continually reminding me that it is perfectly fine "to be lost in the right direction." A special thank you is reserved for Michael Defeo. A true friend whose sense of humor, support, and kindness is truly immeasurable. Lastly, a thank you to Mathew Mosher, whose keen intellect and friendship will be truly missed but never forgotten. iv Table of Contents Abstract iii Acknowledgements iv Chapter 1: Introduction 1 Chapter 2: Soft Power Literature Review 6 Chapter 3: Soft Power Influence with the UNGA 34 Chapter 4: Data, Methodology, and Results 52 Chapter 5: Conclusion 69 References 75 Curriculum Vitae 85 v Chapter 1 Introduction Globalization has made the world more open to international integration through trade, capital flows, cross-cultural exchange, and the spread of norms.
One idea that has become universally discussed is the concept of “soft power. Nye (1990) identified “three main sources” of soft power to explain the shifting political environment. These non-exclusive sources are “culture, political values, and foreign policies” (166-167) as an alternative to “hard power” which relies on “coercion and threats…soft power applies attraction in order to get what you want” (Nye, 1990, 166). A state’s soft power stems from the “attractiveness of its specific culture, political values, and foreign policies” to other states that wish to emulate its example (Nye, 2004, 6-7).
In addition, soft power will be enhanced if domestic and foreign policies are perceived as legitimate. China, as an emerging power, has been utilizing its soft power resources in Africa. Soft power allows for better cross-cultural relationships between states, and it also enhances the legitimacy of a state’s governing regime. For China, this is an important attribute of soft power because China’s economic policies serve “as an alternative to western models of economic development” (Zhao, 2010, 436).
The concept of soft power with “Chinese characteristics” should be further analyzed due to its growing importance in world politics (Glaser and Murphy, 10, 2009). In particular, Chinese use of broad range of economic incentives to African states. According to Glaser and Murphy (2009), “the Chinese also do not use the same categories of aid or Overseas Development Assistance (ODA) as the OECD” (857). 1 Therefore, Chinese aid figures are perceived as convoluted due to “secrecy,” lack of transparency, and variations in what “aid” really is results in “miscalculation” (Brautigam, 2009, 167-168).
Although soft power is a western concept, there is a growing amount of Chinese scholarship that embraces the theory in order to analyze and explain Chinese foreign policy. Within the past few decades, there has been a shift in soft power sources due to its implementation by non-Western states. In particular, China’s use of soft power has been under more critical review due to its competing interests in Africa with other actors, namely the United States. Consequently, Chinese influence may reduce the ability of outside competition and potential political and economic power of actors such as the United States.
Over several decades, Africa, in particular, has continued to be an important part of Chinese foreign policy. There is a difference of opinions across the political spectrum that believe that the Chinese have only exploitive intentions in Africa or claim that China is trying to challenge U. Other opinions claim that China treats Africa as an equal partner and China only has peaceful intentions (Bodomo: 2009; Mazimhaka: 2013). Regardless of opinions, the Chinese approach to soft power in order to foster and cultivate diplomatic relationships is unique and therefore worthy of closer study.
The issue is particularly important because China, in contrast to previous colonial and post-colonial powers, condemns any meddling in a country’s internal affairs. In addition, Chinese aid and development are offered without expectations of domestic political reform. Furthermore, China is perceived as an attractive ally be Like many of the governments in Africa that China is engaged with, its reputation is burdened with problems such as its human rights record. China works diligently to 2 promote itself as a non-interventionist state that only aims to rise peacefully.
In addition, China solicits Africa’s support for its “One China” policy regarding Taiwan. African states exhibit support in multilateral forums such as the United Nations. China has invested enormous energy and financial resources to end African countries’ diplomatic recognition of Taipei (Shinn & Eisenman, 2012, 10). China’s status as a veto holder on the UN Security Council allows China to exert influence and seek to establish credibility both domestically and internationally.
This thesis examines the question of whether China received greater political support in the United Nations General Assembly from Africa governments with which it has close aid, investment, and trade relationships. Globalization has created a more competitive world where states vie for material gain and access to resources. The thesis aims to provide insight into China’s use of soft power in Africa. Specifically, whether the use of aid and investment results in voting alignment with China in the United Nations General Assembly.
This thesis will look at how China has built its soft power in Africa and how China utilizes that power. The primary focus is China’s foreign policy and how it courts developing states in Africa and what China expects to gain from these diplomatic and economic partnerships. The basic structure of this thesis is as follows: Chapter Two will discuss in more detail Nye’s concept of soft power and how Chinese foreign policy coincides and deviates from its definition. Chinese soft power differs from the Western approach, and this chapter will look more closely at the discussion of soft power within Chinese strategic and academic circles.
In particular, the chapter explores how the Chinese interpret “culture, political values, and foreign policy” as soft power resources (Nye, 2004, 6-7). A Chinese perspective on soft power is imperative to understanding how 3 Beijing sets goals, creates plans, and utilizes its soft power in the United Nations General Assembly. Chapter Three will provide a qualitative discussion of what China seeks to gain from this engagement. In addition, the chapter will examine how China achieves these goals, observing China’s soft power strategies and tools of influence.
This chapter will discuss China’s relationships with African states and the benefit it provides China economically and politically. Economically, China focuses resources in Africa in order to complement its own growing economy. China bases these relationships on reciprocity, mutual benefit, and respect for state sovereignty. However, there are political expectations to an economic partnership with the PRC.
Namely, adherence to its “One China” policy, marginalizing Taiwan, and insulating China from criticism of its human rights. In addition, this chapter will explore how China has strategically utilized Africa as a voting bloc in the United Nations General Assembly. Against the backdrop of the qualitative analysis of previous chapters, Chapter Four will present descriptive statistics to assess the effects of China's soft power in Africa. Several variables such as trade, foreign aid, gross domestic product, voting alignment in the United Nations General Assembly, and political terrorism scores are include in the data set.
In addition, this chapter will provide several graphs in order to showcase the relationship between China and Africa. In addition, this chapter will house the research and methods section in order to explain the graphs and tables in order to present the data collected. The chapter will include a brief summary of previous research around foreign aid and political alignment and the role it plays in the United Nations General Assembly. A discussion of the variables used and why they are significant in 4 attempting to measure something intangible like soft power.
Lastly, the chapter will discuss the challenges to measuring China’s soft power. The final chapter will discuss the entire thesis and its contribution to the study of Sino-African relations. In addition, the conclusion will discuss the importance of the United Nations’ reputation, and how its soft power is susceptible to changing political events. It will further discuss how governments should not ignore soft power resources and that China faces challenges with its soft power development; bridging the gap between its foreign and domestic policies.
The chapter will conclude with suggestions for future research. 5 Chapter 2 Soft Power Literature Review Power is a broad concept that is continually analyzed, critiqued, and conceptualized within the study of international relations. In his analysis of “political discourse”, Connolly (1974) expressed the view that the term “power” is an essentially contested concept, and its definition is dependent on the audience.