External publications

Pragmatic, strategic and wide-reaching: the CCP’s party diplomacy in Africa

Hackenesch, Christine / Bader, Julia
External Publications (2024)

in: Megatrends Africa Policy Brief 29

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18449/2024MTA-PB29

In the past few years, China’s engagement in Africa has (again) caused controversy as to whether, how and to what effect China seeks to actively share lessons from its political and economic system in its relations with African countries. One important actor in this regard is the International Department of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP-ID), which is in charge of China’s party diplomacy in Africa and beyond. This policy brief analyses recent patterns and motives of China’s party diplomacy in Africa. It finds that the CCP maintains close ties with the main ruling parties in southern Africa and in some countries in East Africa, while engaging with a broad range of parties in countries in North Africa. Beijing’s party diplomacy in Africa seeks to promote China’s core foreign policy interests, advance an alternative narrative on global China and normalize China’s authoritarian system. Even though it remains unclear as to what extent China can reach it goals through party diplomacy, African policymakers certainly welcome the continuous and high-level engagement by Chinese party officials. European policymakers, in turn, should invest more in better understanding party diplomacy, and reflect on how to respond to a growing competition of narratives.