The book includes seven chapters. This introductory Chapter 1 has so far set out the rationale for the study, identifying its objectives and questions, while surmising its contributions. In the rest of this chapter, it recounts the historical background to contemporary Africa-China relations and surveys the academic literature on Africa-China relations, noting the gaps and common misconceptions.
Chapter 2 ‘Domestic construction of the external other’ proposes the theoretical framework for this study. It builds upon holistic constructivism that prioritises domestic sources of state identities and interests when ascertaining how states defne the identities and interests of external others. These domestic constructions of others’ identities defne what is possible for the state in interactions with these states—whose identity it constructed—and thus its interests. In short, they shape their policies towards the ‘constructed others’. To facilitate analysis of the intersubjective African constructions of the PRC, the chapter further designs a constructivist tri-relational methodology which combines a proposed concept of familiarisation, revised ‘sobjectivism’ and pluralism in deploying discourse analysis and interviews for retrieving inductively domestic China-related narratives for their subsequent objectifcation or generalisation (embedding them in their context and temporality). To evaluate the trends and patterns in the African defned China-identities and interests against the backdrop of their intersubjectivity, this chapter deploys the concepts of theoretical—saturation, sensitivity, adequacy and sensitivity, triangulation and pragmatism to enhance the reliability and robustness of fndings.
Chapters 3–7 are empirical, discussing Ghanaian and Kenyan narratives about China. Chapter 3 ‘Development partner and model: China’s SSA win win relationship’ explores the China-friendly discourse mostly espoused by elected government offcials and public servants—which closely corresponds to Chinese offcial narratives—that considers the Africa-China relationship as mutually benefcial and appreciates the PRC as a development partner. Chapter 3 argues that given state elites’ authority, access to the media and capacity to set policy making agenda, their pro-China narratives are particularly impact ful, shaping policies guiding offcial relations with China, hence the particularly cordial relations between SSA and China at the governmental level.
Chapter 4 ‘Reproaching China: an irresponsible neo-coloniser’, contrary to Chapter 3, examines critical voices of the China relationship advanced primarily by politicians affliated with opposition parties and representatives of civil society that construct China as an exploitative, irresponsible power threatening African economies and political systems. This chapter argues that being aware of China’s domestic politics and Western debates about China and its relations with Africa, African critics also defne China by not only observing inter-state relations but simultaneously evaluating the activities of various China state and non-state actors in the region, illuminating domestic politics as an exhaustive forum for state identity construction.
Chapter 5 ‘African agency in the China relationship’ examines the debates by African observers about the extent to which African states can exercise agency in the context of China encounters. Such debates about their agency further participate in creating a social reality in which China is either a threat or an opportunity, making certain actions necessary while dismissing oth ers as harmful. As all domestic actors in SSA act on their assumptions about China, as being either a friend or (potential) enemy, the question of agency brings to the forefront their ideas about what to do with China as they defne it, making it central to African constructions of China.
Thus, while Chapters 3–5 examine China’s nature, its identities and interests and activities in Africa, Chapter 6 ‘African assessments of the PRC’s power’ refects more broadly on African evaluations of China in international politics, paying particular attention to its infuence in Africa and beyond, and often comparing it to Western powers in the context of their colonial experience. Also, in consideration of both Ghana’s and Kenya’s conceptions of China as a unitary object, Chapter 6 argues that their ideas about China as a new power which differs from the former colonial metropolis, suggest a nuanced understanding of China, in both its domestic and international states. By contesting the meaning of Chinese economic or demographic potential, Beijing’s success in effectively challenging the West in SSA is far from assured.
In ending the book, the fnal Chapter 7 summarises the key fndings and discusses their wider implications for the current understandings of Africa China relations, as well as a constructivist approach more generally. This chapter will also discuss the implications for future research.