The Rise of China as a Global Power and Its Relations with Africa
Abstract
The rise of China as a global power has sparked considerable debate, with some scholars suggesting it will lead to conflict. However, he argues that the emerging world order should be seen as a transition between a “world re-order” and a “new world order”. The former implies that the current order is adapting to accommodate a rising power, while the latter suggests that both existing and emerging powers will negotiate new terms of relationship, leading to a redefined world order. This public seminar will examine China’s role in global governance, hegemony, and world order by exploring three critical periods in its rise: (a) the era of China’s hostility and rejection of the post-war world order, (b) the era of acceptance and China’s integration into the world order, and (c) the current period of leadership and contribution. Additionally, this discussion will explore China-Africa relations, arguing that, beyond the rhetoric of “South-South cooperation” and solidarity, China’s strategic policy towards Africa is focused on creating both dependence and interdependence, ultimately aiming to align the continent with its global ambitions.
Bio.
Prof. Aaron Tesfaye is an Emeritus Professor in the Department of Political Science at William Paterson University in Wayne, NJ. He holds a BA and MPA from California State University, Fresno, and a PhD from the Center for Politics and Economics at Claremont Graduate University, Claremont, CA.
He is the author of several books and numerous scholarly articles. His publications include China in Ethiopia: The Long-Term Perspective (2020), State and Economic Development in Africa: The Case of Ethiopia (2017), The Political Economy of the Nile Basin Regime in the Twentieth Century (2009), and Political Power and Ethnic Federalism: The Struggle for Democracy in Ethiopia (2002). He has taught at California State University, Fresno (1997-2004), and at the Universidad de São José in Macau, S.A.R., People’s Republic of China (2011).
Prof. Aaron Tesfaye is also a Senior Fellow at the Afro-Sino Centre for International Relations in Accra, Ghana.