Institut für Auslandsbeziehungen
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Two new studies analyse China's cultural diplomacy in Africa and Latin America

ifa – Institut für Auslandsbeziehungen publishes two studies on China's cultural diplomacy, particularly on the African continent and in Latin America.

Stuttgart/Berlin, 23.10.2023 – China’s rise as a leading economic power has long since challenged the existing global order. What began as an economic rise has been increasingly accompanied in recent years with measures by China to also increase its cultural influence worldwide. ifa – Institut für Auslandsbeziehungen has recently published two new studies on motivations, key initiatives and strategies behind China’s cultural diplomacy, particularly on the African continent and in Latin America. The results will be presented at a hybrid event in Berlin on 24 October.

Under the leadership of Xi Jinping, China has adopted a more assertive approach to cultural diplomacy. The country aims to increase its international influence and become a leader in culture and sport by 2035. As two recent ifa studies show, one of China’s strategies is to build its capacity in promoting economic relations and to be perceived as a partner for development. Following this logic, China has on the one hand established cultural initiatives within multilateral organisations such as UNESCO; and on the other hand, circumvents them by strengthening or establishing independent initiatives such as BRI, BRICS, or regional forums such as the China-Community of Latin American and Caribbean States Forum (CELAC) Forum (CCF).

The studies paint a complex picture of Chinese cultural diplomacy: China has the determined goal of establishing its own narratives, especially that being an alternative to previous (Western) development strategies. At the same time, organisations such as Confucius Institutes and, for example, town-twinning forums, also offer opportunities for intercultural exchange between China and other countries, and thus for obtaining knowledge about each other. Chinese investments on the African continent, for example in cultural infrastructure, bring economic advantages at first glance, yet turn out to be a debt trap for many African states in the long run. Both studies address the risks of cooperation with China and emphasise the value of UNESCO’s multilateral framework.

Avril Joffe, economic sociologist at the University of the Witwatersrand and author of the ifa study "China’s Institutionalised Cultural Presence in Africa", says: "We need a more refined and subtle view of Chinese investments in African cultural and creative sector, than that which offers a binary view of Africa-China engagements. African stakeholders, including Ministers of Culture, arts and culture organisations and African civil society should ensure that these investments enhance the local cultural and creative sector through technical expertise and concessionary loans and grants, enhance rather than crowd out local cultural expressions, and provide cultural infrastructure that is appropriate to the local urban environment in each specific location".

"Cultural exchanges within the China-CELAC Forum (CCF) are largely shaped by the parameters of China's cultural diplomacy policies and its well-established repertoire of cultural programs applied in other multilateral and regional platforms. In contrast, the members of the CELAC have not agreed on fundamental principles, objectives, and guidelines for their engagement with China, let alone specific policies or strategies in the field of culture. In the current era of hegemonic transition and uncertain alliances, Latin American countries must reconsider the foundations of their cultural engagement not only with China but also with traditional actors like the European Union," says Ximena Zapata, researcher at GIGA and author of the ifa study "China’s Cultural Diplomacy in a New Era of Multilateralism".

The promotion of exchange along with language and regional knowledge in order to enable and facilitate cooperation is a welcomed approach. However, it is important to look closely at the political concepts which are behind the scenarios of future cooperation. Through these publications, ifa intends to facilitate debates on this matter.

 

Event

The results of the two ifa studies will be presented on 24 October 2023 at 18.00 under the title "A 'New Silk Road’ of Culture? China's Cultural Policy Engagement in Latin America and Africa" at the Ibero-American Institute in Berlin. The two authors, Ximena Zapata (GIGA) and Avril Joffe (Wits University Johannesburg), as well as Lutz Möller (German UNESCO Commission) and Hanns W. Maull (SWP) will discuss the results of the studies, which will be moderated by Bert Hoffmann (Head of GIGA Berlin Office). The discussion will take place as a hybrid event. Please register here for on site or digital participation.

About the event

About the studies

"China's Institutionalised Cultural Presence in Africa" by Avril Joffe

The ifa study by Avril Joffe "China's Institutionalised Cultural Presence in Africa" looks at the effects of Chinese cultural diplomacy on the African continent. While for a long time China’s investments in large infrastructure projects were viewed positively, Joffe now notes a growing awareness both in civil society and in government agencies of ambivalent consequences. Many African countries are now groaning under the burden of debt, and about two-thirds of new loans now come from China.

Avril Joffe's study shows where the Chinese state is investing, particularly in the area of foreign cultural policy: In the 2000s, the first Confucius Institutes were founded on the continent, and there are now 61 institutes in Africa. According to the study, media investments run the particular risk of limiting the diversity of local offerings in particular. The study emphasises that a balanced media landscape and education system are crucial for social cohesion. The study's findings highlight the complexity of Chinese engagement in Africa and the various facets of its associated impacts. African actors must ensure that a more equitable engagement develops, where conditions are determined by local needs and culture, and more aggressively advocate for equality, needs, and respect for national sovereignty.

"China's Cultural Diplomacy in a New Era of Multilateralism" by Ximena Zapata

The ifa study by Ximena Zapata delves into "China's Cultural Diplomacy in a New Era of Multilateralism", with a special focus on Latin America. The author examines China's cultural diplomacy in multilateral and regional platforms as a tool to achieve its ambitious national goals during the current hegemonic transition. Since the establishment of the Forum between China and the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CCF) in 2014, China has reaffirmed its interest in strengthening the importance of culture in its relations with Latin American and Caribbean countries. Within the framework of the CCF, various cultural initiatives take place in the areas of education, arts, sports, civil society and regional exchanges, as well as media, bringing together a variety of actors such as university teachers, artists, students, young people, journalists, media, friendship and sports associations, and local authorities.

In the Latin American context, the author notes that China's cultural diplomacy goals are the same as those guiding its efforts at the multilateral level. These goals include presenting a modern and united nation with an ancient civilisation, while countering what China sees as distorted perceptions and promoting its own history. Moreover, China is trying to position itself as a responsible power that offers alternative paths for development and governance beyond those advocated by Western powers. The study concludes that achieving the desired intensity of cultural exchange between China and Latin America remains a major challenge. Many of the CCF's cultural initiatives depend on high-level agreements. Without the involvement of the Chinese government, very few of these initiatives could survive at the regional level. The challenge is to facilitate more direct engagement of Chinese and Latin American civil society.

About the authors

Avril Joffe (Wits University Johannesburg): Avril Joffe is Chair, Teaching and Learning at the School of Arts and Postgraduate Coordinator of Cultural Policy and Management, University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg. She is an economic sociologist working at the nexus of academia and practice, in areas such as culture in urban life and the achievement of equitable and sustainable development. Avril is a member of UNESCO’s Expert Panel on Cultural Policy and Governance, the Global Creative Economy Council for the UK's Creative Industries Policy and Evidence Centre, the International Cultural Relations Research Alliance (ICRRA) and International CREATOUR.

Ximena Zapata is a researcher in the fields of global political economy and international relations with a focus on Latin America. She is a PhD candidate in Political Science at the University of Hamburg and the GIGA Institute, Germany and holds a master’s degree in International Relations from FLACSO-Ecuador. Her research interests include China’s engagement in Latin America, political economy of development, regionalism, cultural diplomacy, and Latin American thinking.

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About ifa

Together with partners, ifa – Institut für Auslandsbeziehungen champions freedom in art, research and civil society worldwide, bringing together people who are committed to an open society. It creates analogue and digital spaces for encounter, exchange, negotiation and co-creation. ifa lends a voice to activists, artists, scholars and scientists, promotes cooperation and increasingly pursues its goals jointly with European partners. Using its core competencies in art, research and civil society, ifa builds networks to achieve sustainable results. It is supported by the Germany’s Federal Foreign Office, the state of Baden-Württemberg and its capital Stuttgart.