China's Exceptionalism and the Challenges of Delivering Difference in Africa

Bibliographic Data

ID12422864
AuthorsChris Alden (0000-0001-7033-1655), Daniel Large (0000-0001-6555-7334)
Year2010
Volume20
Issue68
Pages21-38
Publication date2010-12-09
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueJournal of Contemporary China (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1067-0564 • E-ISSN: 1469-9400
PublisherRoutledge (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/10670564.2011.520844
OpenAlexW2156681677
LanguageEN
Citations received40

This article explores the notion of 'China's exceptionalism' in Africa, a prominent feature in Beijing's current continental and bilateral engagement. 'China's exceptionalism' is understood as a normative modality of engagement that seeks to structure relations such that, though they may remain asymmetrical in economic content they are nonetheless characterised as equal in terms of recognition of economic gains and political standing (mutual respect and political equality). This article considers the burden that the central Chinese government has assumed through its self-construction and mobilisation of a position of exceptionalism and, concurrently, the imperatives that flow from such rhetorical claims of distinctiveness in terms of demonstrating and delivering difference as a means to sustain the unity and coherence of these rhetorical commitments

Beijing · China · Exceptionalism · Normative · Optimal distinctiveness theory · Political economy · Political science · Politics · Rhetorical question · Sociology · China's Global Influence and Migration · China's Socioeconomic Reforms and Governance · International Development and Aid · Law · Psychology · Social Psychology

Tools

Open DOISci-Hub