THE EU’S RESPONSE TO CHINA AS A GROWING ACTOR ON THE AFRICAN CONTINENT - Text analysis on the EU-Africa strategies of 2007 and 2021

Abstract

Aim: This thesis aims at examining the EU's power usage on China's role on the African continent. In particular, this thesis aims at synthesising the EU's role as a normative actor in the international system through analysing the EU-Africa strategies from 2007 and 2021. Theory: In order to conduct this comparative analysis, Joseph S. Nye, JR theoretical framework on Power, will outline the comparative analysis on the power usage. Soft Power as coined by Nye, Jr, is non coercive power, this in opposition to Hard Power that presumes coercive power. Smart Power was coined as a response to amplify each Soft Power and Hard Power jointly. Method: Through conducting a comparative qualitative text analysis on the EU-Africa strategies of 2007 respectively 2021, I aim to deepen the discourse on the EU's response to China's rise on the African continent as conceptualised in the EU-Africa strategies. Result: As much of the previous research demonstrates, the EU is a Soft Power actor and of particular interest is that the EU uses Soft Power on traditionally Hard Power coined elements.