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A Chinese Soft Power Discourse Forced to Dig Deeper - Critical Discourse Analysis of the Power Struggles in Relation to China’s Investments in Zambian Mines

Skaanning Petersen, Birgitta LU (2014) SIMV10 20141
Graduate School
Master of Science in Global Studies
Sociology
Abstract
The first aim of this thesis were to analyze China’s discourse of soft power in relation to their investments in the Zambian mining industry from the year 2000 to 2012. From a combination of Norman Fairclough’s critical discourse analysis and Joseph Nye’s soft power theory, I can conclude, that in the 12 years period the Chinese soft power discourse was dominating and China could persuade and attract Zambia into more cooperation and trade.
The second aim of my thesis were to analyze the discourses constructed in the Zambian media, public and government as a reaction to the Chinese mining investments. Here I found that the tensions, shooting incidents and strikes among Zambian mine workers, together with the Zambian authorities acting... (More)
The first aim of this thesis were to analyze China’s discourse of soft power in relation to their investments in the Zambian mining industry from the year 2000 to 2012. From a combination of Norman Fairclough’s critical discourse analysis and Joseph Nye’s soft power theory, I can conclude, that in the 12 years period the Chinese soft power discourse was dominating and China could persuade and attract Zambia into more cooperation and trade.
The second aim of my thesis were to analyze the discourses constructed in the Zambian media, public and government as a reaction to the Chinese mining investments. Here I found that the tensions, shooting incidents and strikes among Zambian mine workers, together with the Zambian authorities acting against the law, have been constructing an anti-Chinese discourse and a non-functioning authority discourse. Moreover, did the Zambian President change from being the frontier of the anti-Chinese discourse to constructing a light soft power discourse.
Finally, from analyzing the Human Rights Watch report, I found that it clearly has constituted an anti-Chinese discourse, which has forced China to stand against the bad reputation in this particular case. I found that China has focused much more on their attractive culture, but more is needed against the anti-Chinese discourse, so it seems as they have to dig deeper. (Less)
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author
Skaanning Petersen, Birgitta LU
supervisor
organization
course
SIMV10 20141
year
type
H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
subject
keywords
China, Zambia, Critical Discourse Analysis, Soft Power, NGO, Mining industry, Globalization, World Polity
language
English
id
4622677
date added to LUP
2014-09-04 17:06:18
date last changed
2015-01-26 09:04:43
@misc{4622677,
  abstract     = {{The first aim of this thesis were to analyze China’s discourse of soft power in relation to their investments in the Zambian mining industry from the year 2000 to 2012. From a combination of Norman Fairclough’s critical discourse analysis and Joseph Nye’s soft power theory, I can conclude, that in the 12 years period the Chinese soft power discourse was dominating and China could persuade and attract Zambia into more cooperation and trade.
The second aim of my thesis were to analyze the discourses constructed in the Zambian media, public and government as a reaction to the Chinese mining investments. Here I found that the tensions, shooting incidents and strikes among Zambian mine workers, together with the Zambian authorities acting against the law, have been constructing an anti-Chinese discourse and a non-functioning authority discourse. Moreover, did the Zambian President change from being the frontier of the anti-Chinese discourse to constructing a light soft power discourse.
Finally, from analyzing the Human Rights Watch report, I found that it clearly has constituted an anti-Chinese discourse, which has forced China to stand against the bad reputation in this particular case. I found that China has focused much more on their attractive culture, but more is needed against the anti-Chinese discourse, so it seems as they have to dig deeper.}},
  author       = {{Skaanning Petersen, Birgitta}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{A Chinese Soft Power Discourse Forced to Dig Deeper - Critical Discourse Analysis of the Power Struggles in Relation to China’s Investments in Zambian Mines}},
  year         = {{2014}},
}