Live from New York: China and the Global South, with Maria Repnikova and Eric Olander
Nov 9, 2023
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Maria Repnikova and Eric Olander discuss China's soft power in Africa and Sino-Russian relations. Topics include China's neutrality in conflicts, grievance-based politics, admission process of consensus-based organizations, China's media strategies, and podcast and book recommendations.
China's influence in the global south is not receiving adequate media coverage, leaving major crises unaddressed.
China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) has seen successes in gaining support through investment and infrastructure development, but faces criticisms and concerns over debt trap diplomacy.
The convergence between China and Russia in the global information domain has implications for global information dynamics and requires understanding of the unequal aspects of their media relationship.
Deep dives
China's Growing Influence in the Global South
China's influence in the global south is a topic of great importance in today's world. The lack of media coverage on China's relationship with the global south, including Southeast Asia, Africa, Latin America, and South Asia, is a concerning issue. The war and conflict in countries like Sudan and Ethiopia are major crises that are not receiving adequate attention. The podcast aims to address this gap and shed light on the importance of the global south. Maria Repnikova, an associate professor at Georgia State University, and Eric Olender, co-founder of the China Global South Project, provide insights into China's involvement and its impact in the global south. They discuss the challenges and potential costs for China in maintaining a position of pro-Western neutrality in conflicts like the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. They also examine the importance of trust-building with various countries and the appeal of China's neutral stance in certain parts of the global south. Overall, the episode highlights China's increasing influence and the importance of understanding its relationship with the global south.
China's Belt and Road Initiative and its Successes and Challenges
The episode also delves into China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and its 10th anniversary. The BRI has seen both successes and challenges. While the number of attending leaders at the Belt and Road Forum has decreased, enthusiasm for the initiative remains high in many developing countries, particularly in Africa and Asia. China's track record of investment and infrastructure development in these regions has proven effective in gaining the trust and support of local communities. However, the BRI faces criticisms such as the perception of debt trap diplomacy and concerns over China's influence. The episode also explores the effectiveness of China's narrative in the global south, citing examples of media infrastructure diplomacy, content sharing agreements, and journalist training programs. These efforts have contributed to China's discourse power in the region, although it is important to note that media consumption of Chinese state media itself remains limited.
Convergence of China and Russia in the Global Information Domain
The podcast episode touches on the convergence between China and Russia in the global information domain. The two countries have been institutionalizing their media relations and promoting friendly exchanges between state journalists. Regular high-level summits and content co-production initiatives have strengthened their media relationship. China has gained more access to the Russian media market, particularly in the Eurasian region, while Russia's presence in China is somewhat limited. Nonetheless, this convergence is not entirely symmetrical, and there are unequal aspects to the media relationship. The episode highlights the importance of understanding this convergence and its implications for global information dynamics.
Chinese mega projects and loan distress
The podcast episode discusses the impacts of China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), highlighting how large-scale BRI projects are shrinking and facing loan and debt distress. The speaker shares examples, such as the light rail project in Ethiopia where more than half of the trains are non-operational, showcasing how these projects can lose functionality over time. This highlights the need to consider the sustainability and debt distress associated with BRI projects, even though some projects have been successful. The episode also emphasizes the transformation happening on the ground and the shift towards smaller and greener initiatives, potentially involving more private sector actors.
Contrasting elite and popular perspectives
The podcast delves into the contrast between leader's positive narratives about the BRI and the grievances expressed by civil society activists and the public. While the leaders attending the BRI forums often speak positively about the initiative, grievances and concerns arise among the public regarding the effectiveness and costs of these projects. The speaker explains that, although there is generally a positive response across Africa, closer inspection reveals mixed opinions. The episode also highlights the pushback and protests seen in Southeast Asia and Central Asia, suggesting that the perception and reception of the BRI varies on a case-by-case basis.
This week on Sinica, a live recording from New York on the eve of the 2023 NEXTChina Conference. Jeremy Goldkorn joins Kaiser as co-host, with guests Maria Repnikova of Georgia State University, who specializes in Chinese soft power in Africa and on Sino-Russian relations, and Eric Olander, co-founder of the China Global South Project and co-host of the excellent China Global South Podcast and China in Africa Podcast. This show is unedited to preserve the live feel!
Recommendations:
Jeremy: Empire podcastWilliam Dalrymple and Anita Anand, about how empires rise, fall, and shape the world around us
Eric: Eat Bitter, a documentary by Ningyi Sun, a filmmaker from China, and Pascale Appora Gnekindy, from the Central African Republic
Kaiser:Wellness, an ambitious novel by Nathan Hill about a Gen X couple in Wicker Park, Chicago; and the NOVA documentary Inside China's Tech Boom, of which Kaiser is correspondent, narrator, and co-producer.
