Overview

China’s emergence in Africa is the most significant development for the continent since at least the end of the Cold War. Of the permanent members of the UN Security Council, China is also the largest contributor in terms of troop numbers to United Nations Peacekeeping Operations (UNPKO). While China’s potential to be a force for change in Africa is undeniable, there are wildly varied and sometimes unrealistic expectations in both the West and Africa of China’s role in Africa. A more detailed and nuanced understanding of Chinese motivations in its African engagement is necessary, in order to work effectively with China for African peace, security and development. With Liberia, Darfur and South Sudan as case studies, Kuo comprehensively examines the ""Chinese peace"" and places it within the context of the liberal peace debate. He does so using primary sources translated from the original Chinese, as well as interviews conducted in Mandarin with Chinese policymakers, academics, diplomats as well as Chinese company managers and businessmen working in Liberia and South Sudan. He also traces and analyses the Chinese discourse of peace, from traditional Chinese political philosophy, through Mao Zedong and Deng Xiaoping to post-reform and the Xi Jinping era.

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9781032090726

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Reviews

'China's interaction with Africa in the security area will become an increasingly important part of the relationship. Kuo's book is a good addition to the literature on China's security engagement in Africa..., which will be very useful for experts on China as well as students and researchers, who also delve into Chinese and other Southeast Asian issues.' - David H. Shinn, Adjunct Professor, Elliott School of International Affairs, George Washington University and Former U.S. Ambassador to Burkino Faso and Ethiopa. African and Asian Studies 18 (2019) 462-465 doi:10.1163/15692108-12341442 Overall Kuo provides a perceptive analysis of China's approach to peace. The book is rich with archival material that provides a fascinating backdrop to the subject matter. It also makes a valuable contribution to the discourse on China in Africa: as much as Kuo recognises China's complementary role in Africa's peace and security architecture, he notes the limitations that accompany Beijing's engagements...[He] draws explicit parallels between China positioning itself as a leader in the Global South and its growing diplomatic role in peace negotiations and as broker of peace and security in Africa. However, he also asks the more compelling question of how Beijing will react to current contours of instability... 'Plainly, economic development alone is not enough in fostering security and building sustainable peace'. This is key to understanding how Beijing will need to look beyond state sovereignty and recognise that some of the intractable conflicts in Africa hinge on the legitimacy of those in power. Chinese Peace in Africa: From Peacekeeper to Peacemaker is recommended both for specialists and for scholars who are broadly interested in the Sino-African relationship. Sanusha Naidu, Institute for Global Dialogue, Cape Town, South Africa South African Journal of International Affairs, DOI: 10.1080/10220461.2020.1865193

'China’s interaction with Africa in the security area will become an increasingly important part of the relationship. Kuo’s book is a good addition to the literature on China’s security engagement in Africa…, which will be very useful for experts on China as well as students and researchers, who also delve into Chinese and other Southeast Asian issues.' - David H. Shinn, Adjunct Professor, Elliott School of International Affairs, George Washington University and Former U.S. Ambassador to Burkino Faso and Ethiopa. African and Asian Studies 18 (2019) 462-465 doi:10.1163/15692108-12341442 ""Overall Kuo provides a perceptive analysis of China’s approach to peace. The book is rich with archival material that provides a fascinating backdrop to the subject matter. It also makes a valuable contribution to the discourse on China in Africa: as much as Kuo recognises China’s complementary role in Africa’s peace and security architecture, he notes the limitations that accompany Beijing’s engagements…[He] draws explicit parallels between China positioning itself as a leader in the Global South and its growing diplomatic role in peace negotiations and as broker of peace and security in Africa. However, he also asks the more compelling question of how Beijing will react to current contours of instability… ‘Plainly, economic development alone is not enough in fostering security and building sustainable peace’. This is key to understanding how Beijing will need to look beyond state sovereignty and recognise that some of the intractable conflicts in Africa hinge on the legitimacy of those in power. Chinese Peace in Africa: From Peacekeeper to Peacemaker is recommended both for specialists and for scholars who are broadly interested in the Sino–African relationship."" Sanusha Naidu, Institute for Global Dialogue, Cape Town, South Africa South African Journal of International Affairs, DOI: 10.1080/10220461.2020.1865193

'China's interaction with Africa in the security area will become an increasingly important part of the relationship. Kuo's book is a good addition to the literature on China's security engagement in Africa..., which will be very useful for experts on China as well as students and researchers, who also delve into Chinese and other Southeast Asian issues.' - David H. Shinn, Adjunct Professor, Elliott School of International Affairs, George Washington University and Former U.S. Ambassador to Burkino Faso and Ethiopa. African and Asian Studies 18 (2019) 462-465 doi:10.1163/15692108-12341442 Overall Kuo provides a perceptive analysis of China's approach to peace. The book is rich with archival material that provides a fascinating backdrop to the subject matter. It also makes a valuable contribution to the discourse on China in Africa: as much as Kuo recognises China's complementary role in Africa's peace and security architecture, he notes the limitations that accompany Beijing's engagements...[He] draws explicit parallels between China positioning itself as a leader in the Global South and its growing diplomatic role in peace negotiations and as broker of peace and security in Africa. However, he also asks the more compelling question of how Beijing will react to current contours of instability... 'Plainly, economic development alone is not enough in fostering security and building sustainable peace'. This is key to understanding how Beijing will need to look beyond state sovereignty and recognise that some of the intractable conflicts in Africa hinge on the legitimacy of those in power. Chinese Peace in Africa: From Peacekeeper to Peacemaker is recommended both for specialists and for scholars who are broadly interested in the Sino-African relationship. Sanusha Naidu, Institute for Global Dialogue, Cape Town, South Africa South African Journal of International Affairs, DOI: 10.1080/10220461.2020.1865193

Author Information

Steven C.Y. Kuo is a Research Associate at Gordon Institute of Business Science, University of Pretoria, South Africa

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