Discursive Shifts: US Self-Image in Framing Sino-African Relations

It is well acknowledged, both in academia and media, that the United States is highly pessimistic of China’s increased presence in international affairs. Often, this Sino-pessimism is expressed through US political discourse on Sino-African relations. However, upon closer examination, the US, starting in the second Bush-era, began from a point of reserved optimism in regard to Sino-African relations. This reveals that the notion that the US has remained static in its negative portrayal of Sino-African relations is inaccurate. This study will examine how the US political discourse surrounding Sino-African relations has evolved through the Bush, Obama, and Trump administrations, and more importantly why this evolution has occurred. Using critical discourse analysis, this study examines US elite political discourse to reveal themes and unquestioned assumptions prevalent in the US portrayal of Sino-African relations. This study finds that the discourse used by each of these...Show moreIt is well acknowledged, both in academia and media, that the United States is highly pessimistic of China’s increased presence in international affairs. Often, this Sino-pessimism is expressed through US political discourse on Sino-African relations. However, upon closer examination, the US, starting in the second Bush-era, began from a point of reserved optimism in regard to Sino-African relations. This reveals that the notion that the US has remained static in its negative portrayal of Sino-African relations is inaccurate. This study will examine how the US political discourse surrounding Sino-African relations has evolved through the Bush, Obama, and Trump administrations, and more importantly why this evolution has occurred. Using critical discourse analysis, this study examines US elite political discourse to reveal themes and unquestioned assumptions prevalent in the US portrayal of Sino-African relations. This study finds that the discourse used by each of these administrations reveals more about the US than it does about the Sino-African relationship. The Bush administration showed excessive optimism that manifested through coercive liberalism and believed that the Chinese would model their engagement with Africa on US engagement and become an ally in liberalising Africa. The Obama administration attempted to rehabilitate the international image of the US through grand rhetoric and international liberalism, while positioning China as the illiberal ‘other’ that was a threat to African freedom and dignity. The Trump administration represents a shift to realism, spouting Sinophobia in Africa while spouting anti-Africa rhetoric in the United States, with a stated aim of upsetting the liberal order to unclear ends. By tracking change over time, the US discourse reveals more about how the US was attempting to project its self-image at the time than it does about Sino-African relations.Show less

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Discursive Shifts: US Self-Image in Framing Sino-African Relations