Masters Degrees (Political Studies and Governance)
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Item Open Access China and India’s foreign policy interests in Africa: partners in development or national self-interest?(University of the Free State, 2015-02-02) Du Plessis, Ambrosé Ray; Neethling, T. G.; Schoeman, P. A.English: This study explores whether the relationship which China and India forged with Africa on their own terms, is mutually beneficial or whether it is selfish, one-sided and therefore largely beneficial to Chinese and Indian interests respectively. The study descriptively analyses China and India‘s foreign policies towards Africa in order to determine whether it is a case of national self-interest or partners in development. The research also makes use of the comparative method, by comparing China and India‘s respective modus operandi in Africa. China and India‘s foreign policies are scrutinised with regard to their agencies, structural design and implementation. There are two schools of thought on the motives for China and India‘s presence in Africa. On the one hand is a discourse arguing that both China and India are seeking ways to forge mutually beneficial partnerships with Africa. On the other, is a second school of thought that argues China and India‘s relationship with the continent is primarily self-serving and that they are simply seeking to exploit Africa, for its natural resources. The study explores the conceptual framework, which consists of three key concepts namely foreign policy, national interest and partners in development. These concepts were then linked to China-Africa and India-Africa relations. The investigation found that foreign policy theories are linked to the behaviour of the actors that make and implement it. In other words, theory informs practice, although not in systematic manner as outlined in the various theories. The study also examined both China and India‘s domestic needs and challenges as inputs in their respective foreign policy processes (formulation and execution). Looking inwards allowed the study to make more sense and work towards a deeper understanding of both China and India‘s foreign policies, respectively. Therefore, China and India‘s foreign policy actions in Africa are based on their domestic considerations. This is especially true as far as China and India‘s domestic development ―models‖ are concerned. Both China and India have institutionalised their contemporary relationship with Africa in the form of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) and the African-India Forum Summit (AIFS), respectively. Moreover, China and India‘s aid allocations have come to play an integral part in their relations with Africa. Apart from multilateralism, the study also examined China and India‘s bilateral relations with specific African countries, in order to determine whether their relationship can be associated with partners in development or national self-interest. The study concludes that both China and India‘s foreign policy interest in Africa displays elements of both a strategic partnership and national self-interest. Operating in China‘s shadow, has afforded New Delhi the opportunity to prioritise its national self-interest in Africa. As a result, India has been more aggressive in securing its national self-interests in Africa. In conclusion both schools of thought (national self-interest and partners in development) could be validated.