A Foot in Two Camps? South Sudan’s Relations with China in a Historical Perspective

Sara de Simone
{"title":"A Foot in Two Camps? South Sudan’s Relations with China in a Historical Perspective","authors":"Sara de Simone","doi":"10.54103/2612-6672/20093","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"Relations between South Sudan and China are not a new phenomenon. However, since 2011 they have been steadily growing in terms of trade and investments, cultural exchanges, development and humanitarian aid. The breakout of the civil war in December 2013 has contributed to this trend. Amidst the disenchantment of traditional Western partners of South Sudan, massive shifts of aid flows from development to humanitarian response, and the flight of foreign capitals scared by the war, not only did China keep its presence in the country, it also took a more active stance by sending its first combat troops ever in the framework of the UN Mission, and engaging in the peace negotiations. What consequences has China’s growing presence had on South Sudan’s capacity of determining its own political agenda? This article argues that it has provided an opportunity of expanding the space for agency of the South Sudanese governing elite to make choices in opposition to the requests of traditional donors. At the same time, since relations with China are bound to pragmatic considerations from both sides, there is evidence that China’s will to partner with the country is only as strong as the potential benefits accruing from this partnership.","PeriodicalId":275196,"journal":{"name":"Nuovi Autoritarismi e Democrazie: Diritto, Istituzioni, Società (NAD-DIS)","volume":"14 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0000,"publicationDate":"2023-05-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Nuovi Autoritarismi e Democrazie: Diritto, Istituzioni, Società (NAD-DIS)","FirstCategoryId":"1085","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.54103/2612-6672/20093","RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":null,"ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"","JCRName":"","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0

Abstract

Relations between South Sudan and China are not a new phenomenon. However, since 2011 they have been steadily growing in terms of trade and investments, cultural exchanges, development and humanitarian aid. The breakout of the civil war in December 2013 has contributed to this trend. Amidst the disenchantment of traditional Western partners of South Sudan, massive shifts of aid flows from development to humanitarian response, and the flight of foreign capitals scared by the war, not only did China keep its presence in the country, it also took a more active stance by sending its first combat troops ever in the framework of the UN Mission, and engaging in the peace negotiations. What consequences has China’s growing presence had on South Sudan’s capacity of determining its own political agenda? This article argues that it has provided an opportunity of expanding the space for agency of the South Sudanese governing elite to make choices in opposition to the requests of traditional donors. At the same time, since relations with China are bound to pragmatic considerations from both sides, there is evidence that China’s will to partner with the country is only as strong as the potential benefits accruing from this partnership.
脚踏两只船?历史视角下的南苏丹与中国关系
南苏丹与中国的关系并不是一个新现象。然而,自2011年以来,两国在贸易和投资、文化交流、发展和人道主义援助方面稳步增长。2013年12月爆发的内战助长了这一趋势。在南苏丹传统的西方合作伙伴不再抱有幻想、援助资金大规模从发展转向人道主义应对、外国资本因战争而逃离的背景下,中国不仅保持了在南苏丹的存在,而且采取了更为积极的姿态,在联合国特派团的框架内派遣了第一支作战部队,并参与了和平谈判。中国日益增长的存在对南苏丹决定自己政治议程的能力有何影响?本文认为,它提供了一个机会,扩大了南苏丹统治精英机构的空间,使其能够做出反对传统捐助者要求的选择。与此同时,由于与中国的关系必然是双方务实的考虑,有证据表明,中国与中国合作的意愿只有与这种伙伴关系所带来的潜在利益一样强烈。
本文章由计算机程序翻译,如有差异,请以英文原文为准。
求助全文
约1分钟内获得全文 求助全文
来源期刊
自引率
0.00%
发文量
0
×
引用
GB/T 7714-2015
复制
MLA
复制
APA
复制
导出至
BibTeX EndNote RefMan NoteFirst NoteExpress
×
提示
您的信息不完整,为了账户安全,请先补充。
现在去补充
×
提示
您因"违规操作"
具体请查看互助需知
我知道了
×
提示
确定
请完成安全验证×
copy
已复制链接
快去分享给好友吧!
我知道了
右上角分享
点击右上角分享
0
联系我们:info@booksci.cn Book学术提供免费学术资源搜索服务,方便国内外学者检索中英文文献。致力于提供最便捷和优质的服务体验。 Copyright © 2023 布克学术 All rights reserved.
京ICP备2023020795号-1
ghs 京公网安备 11010802042870号
Book学术文献互助
Book学术文献互助群
群 号:481959085
Book学术官方微信