1. 21st-Century Chinese Africa Policy in a Multipolar World and the Use of Soft Power 21st-Century Chinese Africa Policy in a Multipolar World and the Use of Soft Power Emerging Africa conference, Pécs, 14 June 2012 István TARRÓSY, PhD, assistant professor, Dept. of Political Studies, Faculty of Humanities, University of Pécs

3. America-centred, unipolar world?

5. The cob-web of interconnectedness A ‘world society’ with sub-national and supranational levels of interactions. (Burton, 1972)

6. The semi-periphery Centre states – states on the periphery Globalisation increases the gap between them No hegemonic superpower 10 power centres form the new world order  multipolar world New dynamism coming from the ‘in-between’ semi-periphery ”Final stage”  either a world society, or a ”barbarian” age

7. The state remains a significant actor Our global world has two dimensions at the same time: a) state-centric, b) transnational, multicentric Complex interdependence has an influence on the relations between the state and other actors Castells (1996-98): the new form for the state: ”network-state” New types of power possessed by different types of actors IR do not only mean inter-national (inter- state) relations any longer!

8. Complex interconnectedness and interdependence Drawing upon Dirk Messner (2002) some problem types: -Safeguarding biodiversity -Migration -Pollution (of seas e.g.) -Corruption -Mega-cities -Stability of the international financial system -Unemployment -Democratic deficit across government architecture,... Global challenges, problems cannot be answered, sloved by only one entity (state or other actor) There is an increasing need for collaboration.

9. China, the dragon at full throttle From 1979: significant development  on the way to become a global actor (pole) Ramo (2004): today the ”new physics of power” is attached to China Pragmatic foreign policy + the use of ”smart power” Deeply interconnected with other actors in East and South- East Asia Actor with the ability to set the agenda

10. Transforming IR “China’s soft power and increasingly sophisticated diplomacy will transform international relations” (Kurlantzick, 2007)  aim: “changing countries’ views of China”  how? what tools?

11. What we can see is: China ”Goes Global” 1991: 3 billion $ FDI 2003: 35 billion $ FDI 2007: 92 billion $ FDI

12. What to do with?  Fears? US-China competition? Where is Europe?

13. Chinese soft power in the making Today, for China soft power means more than cultural diplomacy – it ranges from pop culture via aid to trade, and to investments. To promote Chinese values (going back to Confucius and his Analects) and partnership (and to get rid of the ‘yellow peril’ attitude) Using ‘offensive’ media, arts, film, sports, world events, technologies ruan guoli to increase zonghe guoli (=Comprehensive National Power, CNP), therefore, it is an issue for national politics To show the world that it is good and worth co- operating (=making business) with China.

16. Soft China in Africa? …as well as hard China – “Chinese packages” Pragmatic Africa policy – “3 faces of power”: might, money and minds (Lampton, 2008) But: Do moral values matter? Ideology concerned? South- South co-operation?

17. CIs across the African continent

18. Some concluding remarks China: Not only raw materials – much more to/in the ‘package’ Africa also wants more from any of the partners Important philosophical- ideological framework going back to the NAM Strategic thinking, clear messages, different tone: win-win(-win), handled with care For Africa: this attitude can be good to re-discover self-confidence “The challenge for many parts of Africa that were decultured is to rediscover their cultural heritages, and use them to both reconnect with the past and help direct them in their political, spiritual, economic, and social development.” (Maathai, 2009)