Rethinking China: Perceptions from Africa. A survey of Nigeria University students
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.15549/jeecar.v10i5.1023Keywords:
China, Nigeria, Africa, perception, trade, powerAbstract
This article studies the sources from which Nigerian university students receive information about China. The awareness of the Nigerian youth about China's initiatives such as 'One Belt One Road' and 'Forum on China-Africa Cooperation' further discloses the perception of the students on the rise of China and its influence on global affairs. In addition, the study reveals how African students perceive China as a trade partner. The results indicate the internet and social media are major sources of awareness. Some students are somewhat aware of the Chinese initiatives, but others have never heard about these initiatives. The students think that China has influence in the World and African affairs and are neutral about the responsible behavior of China as a global power. Students are positive about the Chinese development model and are concerned about the influx of Chinese labor in Nigeria.
References
Arabaci, A. & Ozden, K. (2019). A Comparison of China's and the European Union's Economic and Political Relations in Africa. Journal of Social Research and Behavioral Sciences, 5(9), 58–78. http://www.sadab.org/FileUpload/bs701867/File/eu_china_africa_17_december_2019.pdf
Berdiyev, A. & Can, N. (2020). The Importance of Central Asia in China's Foreign Policy and Beijing's Soft Power Instruments. Central Asia & the Caucasus, 21(4), (15-24). https://doi.org/10.37178/ca-c.20.4.02 DOI: https://doi.org/10.37178/ca-c.20.4.02
Broadman, H. G. (2007). Africa's Silk Road: China and India's new Economics Frontier, World Bank, Washington DC. https://doi.org/10.2979/aft.2008.54.4.91 DOI: https://doi.org/10.2979/AFT.2008.54.4.91
Can, N., Koncak, I., Muhyaddin, S. & Keles, I. (2021). Perception of China and other great powers among Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan youth. Central Asia and the Caucuses, 22(4), 71-83 https://doi.org/10.37178/ca-c.21.4.07 DOI: https://doi.org/10.37178/ca-c.21.4.07
Chen, YW. & Hao, Y. (2020). Czech Perceptions of the Rise of China: A Survey among University Students. Asia Europe Journal, 18, 157-175. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10308-019-00542-6 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10308-019-00542-6
Duggan, N. (2020). Competition and Compromise among Chinese Actors in Africa: A Bureaucratic Politics Study of Chinese Foreign Policy Actors. Palgrave Macmillan. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-13-8813-2 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-13-8813-2
Flores-Macías G. A. & Kreps, S. E. (2013). The Foreign Policy Consequences of Trade: China's Commercial Relations with Africa and Latin America, 1992–2006. The Journal of Politics, 75(2), 357–371. https://doi.org/10.1017/s0022381613000066 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/S0022381613000066
Galliers, R. (1992). Information Systems Research: Issues, Methods and Practical Guidelines. Blackwell Scientific.
Haugen, H. Ø. & Carling, J. (2005). On the Edge of the Chinese Diaspora: The Surge of Baihuo Business in an African City. Ethnic and Racial Studies, 28(4), 639–662. https://doi.org/10.1080/01419870500092597 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/01419870500092597
Herlijanto, J. (2017). How the Indonesian Elite Regards Relations with China. Perspective: Researchers at ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute Analyse Current Events. ISEAS Yusof Ishak Institute, No: 8. Singapore, ISSN 2335-6677, pp. 1-7. https://www.iseas.edu.sg/images/pdf/ISEAS_Perspective_2017_8.pdf
Herrick, C., Gai, Z. and Subramaniam, S. (2016). China's peaceful rise: Perceptions, policy and misperceptions. Manchester University Press, Manchester.
Imanche, S. A., Ze, T., Ayom, M. C. & Dalibi, S. G. (2021). An Assessment Nigerians Perception towards Chinese Foreign Direct Investments and Its Acceptability in Nigeria. Open Journal of Business and Management, 9(3), 1151-1168. https://doi.org/10.4236/ojbm.2021.93062 DOI: https://doi.org/10.4236/ojbm.2021.93062
Jackson, S. F. (2019). Two Distant Giants: China and Nigeria Perceive Each Other. Air Force Journal of European, Middle Eastern, & African Affairs, 1(2). 40-74. https://www.airuniversity.af.edu/Portals/10/JEMEAA/Journals/Volume-01_Issue-2/JEMEAA_01_2_Jackson.pdf
Johns Hopkins China-Africa Research Initiative (2021) < https://www.sais-cari.org/
Kuczynski, L. & Daly, K. (2003). Qualitative Methods for Inductive (Theory-Generating) Research. In L. Kuczynski (Ed.) Handbook of Dynamics in Parent-child Relations (pp.373-392). Sage Publications, https://doi.org/10.4135/9781452229645.n18 DOI: https://doi.org/10.4135/9781452229645.n18
Li, S. & Rønning, H. (2013). Half-Orchestrated, Half Freestyle: Soft Power and Reporting Africa in China. Ecquid Novi: African Journalism Studies, 34(3). 102–124. https://doi.org/10.1080/02560054.2013.845591 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/02560054.2013.845591
Naidu, S. & Mbazima, D. (2008). China–African relations: A new impulse in a changing continental landscape. Futures, 40(8), 748-761. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.futures.2008.02.007 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.futures.2008.02.007
Oke, M., Oshinfowokan, O. & Okonoda, O. (2019). Nigeria-China Trade Relations: Projections for National Growth and Development. International Journal of Business and Management, 14(11). 77-89. https://ccsenet.org/journal/index.php/ijbm/article/view/0/41006 DOI: https://doi.org/10.5539/ijbm.v14n11p77
Pathak, S. (2015, October 15). The "Peace" in China's Peaceful Rise. E-International Relations. https://www.e-ir.info/2015/10/15/the-peace-in-chinas-peaceful-rise/
Rebol, M. (2010). Public Perceptions and Reactions: Gauging African views of China in Africa. African Journal of Agricultural Research, 5(25). 3524-3535. https://academicjournals.org/article/article1380808457_Rebol.pdf
Robson, C. (2002). Real World Research: A Resource for Social Scientists and Practitioner-Researchers. Wiley-Blackwell Publishers Ltd.
SAIS-CARI. (2023). FDIData_April2023 (Excel file). Retrieved from https://www.sais-cari.org/s/FDIData_April2023.xlsx
Saunders, M., Lewis, P. & Thornhill, A. (2009). Research Methods for Business Students. Prentice Hall.
Sautman, B., & Hairong, Y. (2009). African Perspectives on China-Africa Links. The China Quarterly, 199, 728–759. https://doi.org/10.1017/S030574100999018X DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/S030574100999018X
Selormey, E. (2020, September 3). Africans' perceptions about China: A Sneak Peek from 18 Countries. Afrobarometer. https://afrobarometer.org/sites/default/files/africa-china_relations-3sept20.pdf
Shen, S. & Taylor, S. (2012). Ugandan Youths' Perceptions of Relations with China. Asian Perspective, 36(4), 693-723. https://doi.org/10.1353/apr.2012.0026 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1353/apr.2012.0026
Silver, L., Devlin, K. & Huang, C. (2019, December 5). Attitudes toward China. Pew Research Center. https://www.pewresearch.org/global/2019/12/05/attitudes-toward-china-2019/
Smith, E. (2019, October 9). The US-China trade rivalry is underway in Africa, and Washington is playing catch-up. CNBC. https://www.cnbc.com/2019/10/09/the-us-china-trade-rivalry-is-underway-in-africa.html
Tan-Mullins, M., Mohan, G. & Power, M. (2010). Redefining 'Aid' in the China–Africa Context. Development and Change, 41(5), 857-881. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-7660.2010.01662.x DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-7660.2010.01662.x
Tull, D. M. (2006). China's Engagement in Africa: Scope, Significance and Consequences. The Journal of Modern African Studies, 44(3), 459-479. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0022278X06001856 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/S0022278X06001856
Waweru, S. M. (2020). Who is Against Sino-African Relations? Evolving Perceptions on Chinese Engagement in Kenya. Chinese Journal of International Review, 2(2), 1–22. https://doi.org/10.1142/s2630531320500110 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1142/S2630531320500110
Žukauskas, P., Vveinhardt, J. & Andriukaitienė, R. (2018). Philosophy and Paradigm of Scientific Research. In P. Žukauskas, J. Vveinhardt & R. Andriukaitienė (Eds.), Management Culture and Corporate Social Responsibility, (121–139). IntechOpen, London.
https://doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.70628 DOI: https://doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.70628
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2023 Nurettin Can, Sanar Muhyaddin, Ahmet Arabaci, Ibrahim Koncak, Ibrahim Keles
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
The JEECAR journal allows the author(s) to hold the copyright and publishing rights of their own manuscript without restrictions.
This journal applies the Creative Attribution Common License to works we publish, and allows reuse and remixing of its content, in accordance with a CC-BY 4.0 license.
Authors are free to: Share — copy and redistribute the material in any medium or format and Adapt — remix, transform, and build upon the material for any purpose, even commercially.
Under the following terms: Attribution — You must give appropriate credit, provide a link to the license, and indicate if changes were made. You may do so in any reasonable manner, but not in any way that suggests the licensor endorses you or your use.
No additional restrictions — The author may not apply legal terms or technological measures that legally restrict others from doing anything the license permits.
The JEECAR Journal is committed to the editorial principles of all aspects of publication ethics and publication malpractice as assigned by the Committee on Public Ethics.