Discussion Papers

The CCS produces a loose series of Discussion Papers which provide insights into ongoing research, including that of partners or visiting scholars.

Chinese-led SEZs in Africa: Are they a driving force of China’s soft power?

1/2013

By Yejoo Kim

This Discussion Paper focuses on Chinese Special Economic Zones as a possible expansion of soft power in Africa. The Chinese government has aspirations to promote development on the African continent, and works according to successful own experiences, amongst which feature the Shenzhen Special Economic Zone and other such experiments. While a success of the SEZs in Africa might contribute to helping establish China’s soft power in Africa, continuous commitment by both China and the host countries is necessary for this to happen. Even though the Chinese government’s unprecedented support and the high-profile politician’s visits have been successful in gaining the support from African governments and elites in terms of the establishment of SEZs, it will take longer to convince the local people since soft power is socially constructed through interaction among various agents. Most of the SEZs are still under construction and have not started operations yet. This prolonged process as well as labour-related issues such as lack of respect for basic workers’ rights, alleged violation of minimum wage legislation, and complaints about poor working conditions have resulted in resentment of local population.

[Download CCS Discussion Paper 1/2013 here]

Climate change risk and response: Droughts as extreme weather events in China

5/2012

By Harrie Esterhuyse

Climate change is leading to an increase in extreme weather events globally. Different communities and different ecosystems are impacted in various ways by these events. It is important to understand what the different vulnerabilities and exposures are for different regions, so as to be better prepared to mitigate and adapt to reduce extreme weather event risk. This paper evaluates the extreme weather event risk of two drought hit areas in China. This study, indirectly, also illuminates some ways in which developing countries, especially relevant in the China–Africa relationship, can learn from each other; both from successes and mistakes.

[Download CCS Discussion Paper 5/2012 here]

Trilateral development cooperation between the European Union, China and Africa: What prospects for South Africa?

4/2012

By Anna Katharina Stahl

The fourth CCS Discussion Paper for 2012 aims at advancing the debate around trilateral development cooperation between the European Union (EU), the People’s Republic of China (China) and Africa. The discussion on trilateral development cooperation between the EU, China and Africa primarily considers the role of the EU as a traditional donor and that of China as an emerging donor, while failing to grasp the potential of African actors. This paper addresses this analytical gap by examining the role of South Africa in a potential trilateral development partnership with the EU and China. Analysing the case study of South Africa, this paper also discusses whether trilateral development cooperation could possibly emerge as an alternative policy tool to existing bilateral and multilateral collaboration efforts between the EU and China in fostering African development. It is argued that due to its particular economic and political characteristics, South Africa possess the potential for launching a trilateral development partnership with the EU and China. Yet, in the absence of existing trilateral projects, some uncertainties around the concept of trilateral cooperation both in terms of conceptualisation and actual practices persist. Only by embarking on first pilot projects, policymakers in South Africa, the EU and China can eventually find out the actual benefits and limitations of what could become a novel type of cooperation.

[Download CCS Discussion Paper 4/2012 here]

Development in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region: Spatial Transformation and the Construction of Difference in Western China

3/2012

By Dr Ross Anthony

The third CCS Discussion Paper for 2012 offers an ethnographic description and analysis of a recent development project in one of the central Uyghur neighbourhoods in the regional capital of Urumqi. In the past two decades, China’s Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region has been the recipient of several large-scale development projects which have occurred in conjunction with market-orientated mechanisms introduced to help foster growth. Because such measures have been introduced in conjunction with the large-scale migration of Han Chinese to this traditionally non-Han region, critics have argued that such measures merely assist a process of “internal colonialism”. The territory, occupied primarily by Uyghurs, a Turkic Muslim ethnic group, has a considerable history of resistance to Beijing rule. Thus, the recent economic development of the region has been viewed by scholars, not to mention many Uyghurs, as Beijing’s attempt to consolidate the Chinese presence in the region.

[Download CCS Discussion Paper 3/2012 here]

The Challenge in Conservation of Biodiversity: Regulation of National Parks in China and South Africa in Comparison

2/2012

By Meryl Burgess

This second CCS Discussion Paper for 2012 looks at the way South Africa and China have attempted to regulate and manage national parks. Regulation and management of parks are important as parks need to uphold the laws on biodiversity conservation and environmental protection.With the increasing depletion and extinction of the world’s biodiversity, it has become a vital process among the global community to protect the environment and safeguard natural habitats and thousands of species. In developing countries like China and South Africa, factors like the growth and development of urban and rural spaces, industrialisation, high population growth and agriculture activities have added extra pressures to the countries’ biodiversity and natural environment, thus creating many challenges for conservation. For this reason, there has been an increase in the number of protected areas established, especially national parks, that are firstly established to protect biodiversity and secondly, for education and recreation. Although China has an established nature reserve system, the national park system is in its early developing phase, with national parks only established in one province. South Africa on the other hand has an older and established national park system, with 22 national parks regulated and managed by SANParks and the Department of Environmental Affairs.

[Download CCS Discussion Paper 2/2012 here]