Dr. Anita Spring, Dr. Lina Benabdallah, and Dr. Agnes Leslie organized this event as part of the Africa-China working group symposium.
On February 12th, 2021, the Center for African Studies with the China-Africa working group hosted its weekly Baraza entitled: “African Agency in the Pandemic Time: Reflecting on Africa-China Relations”. The presentation was given by Dr. Folashadé Soulé, a Senior Research Associate at the Global Economic Governance programme (Blavatnik School of Government) at Oxford University. Her research areas focus on Africa-China relations, the study of agency in Africa’s international relations, and the politics of South-South cooperation. She was a postdoctoral fellow at the London School of Economics, and a former Oxford-Princeton Global Leaders Fellow. Her research has been published in several peer-review journals among which African Affairs, Global Governance, and Foro Internacional.
Dr. Folashadé began by framing the context of shifting economies due to COVID-19, and the many diplomacies between Africa and China during this pandemic. She shared her insights on China’s active employment of dynamic health diplomacy over the past year. As well as how African actors have navigated through these diplomacies of “Corona”, Masking” and Health. Also, noting the ingenuity, agency, and grounding that these actors have shown in negotiating relationships with China.
Dr. Folashadé noted what these current negotiations suggest for China and Africa relationship currently and post-pandemic. China’s visibility politics, activism, mobilizing, and support during this pandemic period in Africa has highlighted how constituents in African countries view aid and support from China. Especially by key stakeholders, Chinese media, and embassies. This has also fostered solidarity among African leaders to be viewed as responsible and close to their constituents. Giving them negotiation power in Vaccine diplomacy and Vaccine Aid – preferential access to Chinese vaccine, global public good for the vaccine – markets by the Chinese government. Vaccine diplomacy is both via bilateralism and multilateralism.
Dr. Folashadé argues that an “African State agency” in the context of China COVID-19 diplomacy has focused on strategic goals, giving the example of Ethiopian airlines and their positionality as this hub and fast delivery of PPE’s during the early onset of the Pandemic.
She calls this concept “Basket strategies in Africa” – where the State’s agency chooses partnership wisely and beneficial. Dr. Folashadé argued also the role that civic (civil society) agency play – these are non-state African actors. Giving an example of the racist mistreatment of Africans in China and backlash received, which pulled civil society organizations- diplomats and the government to speak out to some extent.
Lastly, will the pandemic affect negotiation strategies in African and china relationships> Impact future policies and the perceived positive influence currently? More and more constituents of African countries are requesting better transparency from their leaders. Requiring better policies, as well as building from lessons learned. This Internal pressure and demand for transparency and local content is becoming a national preference. Post-COVID-19, what is next for the study of agency in African-China relations – focusing on the agency produced by African actors – these relational and dynamic attributes, and the constraints faced. Challenge the narrative – of African actors being perpetual victims, of lacking initiative. African actors have and continue to show a level of creativity and ingenuity in working with Chinese actors. Future analysis on agency should include -unpacking- categorizing larger typology, no categorization of African agency.
Written by: Karen Awura-Adjoa Ronke Coker