The China in Africa Podcast How China Uses Parliamentary Buildings to Build Influence in Africa
Nov 25, 2025
Innocent Batsani-Ncube, an associate professor of African politics and author of "China and African Parliaments," explores China's extensive construction of government buildings in Africa. He discusses how these projects serve as tools for subtle power, influencing African elites while being framed as generous gifts. The conversation dives into the political implications of foreign-funded parliaments, sovereignty concerns, and the unique dynamics of China's approach compared to other countries. Case studies from Lesotho, Malawi, and Zimbabwe illustrate the complexities behind these architectural investments.
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China's Parliamentary Building Boom
- China has funded over 200 African government buildings, including ~15 parliaments, as part of a deliberate diplomatic effort.
- Innocent Batsani-Ncube calls this form of influence "subtle power" aimed at elite ingratiation rather than overt coercion.
Defining 'Subtle Power'
- "Subtle power" sits between soft and sharp power and focuses on ingratiating political elites.
- It works by providing gifts without explicit demands, creating elite-level access and influence over time.
Mount Hampden's Symbolic Parliament Site
- In Zimbabwe the Chinese-backed parliament was sited on Mount Hampden, a place with colonial symbolic history.
- Presenting the building as a gift to the head of state sidelined local bureaucratic procedures and gave China more control over the project.
