New Perspectives on China’s Relations with the World

The author critiques existing international relations literature for viewing China primarily as an object of Western socialisation, arguing instead that China is an active agent of socialisation. Using the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) as a case study, the paper demonstrates how China employs a 'colony narrative' and the framework of South-South cooperation to frame itself as a fellow developing country resisting Western hegemony. This discourse legitimises the 'security-development nexus'—the idea that economic development is the foundation of security—allowing Beijing to shift from a policy of non-interference to active engagement in African peace and security operations while maintaining a consistent diplomatic narrative.

• The author argues that mainstream international relations literature on socialisation is biased toward a Western liberal order and fails to recognise China as a subject (agent) of socialisation rather than just an object.
• China uses regional forum diplomacy, such as the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), to promote its own development model and establish itself as a global normative power by seeking recognition from other developing countries.
• China employs a 'colony narrative' in its diplomacy with Africa, framing both regions as historical victims of Western colonialism and imperialism to build a shared identity of 'common fundamental interests'.
• The 'security-development nexus' is central to Chinese policy in Africa, positing that poverty and lack of development are the primary causes of conflict, and therefore economic development is the essential foundation for durable security.
• By successfully socialising African leaders into the security-development nexus and the narrative of South-South cooperation, China has justified a policy shift from non-involvement to active engagement in African peace and security.

APA

Peace Research Institute Oslo (n.d.). New Perspectives on China’s Relations with the World. https://cdn.cloud.prio.org/files/4c1a6439-bf7a-42f4-b506-cf2269255d52/Chinas Multilateral Diplomacy in Africa Constructing the Security-Development Nexus.pdf?inline=true

Chicago

Peace Research Institute Oslo. New Perspectives on China’s Relations with the World. n.d. https://cdn.cloud.prio.org/files/4c1a6439-bf7a-42f4-b506-cf2269255d52/Chinas Multilateral Diplomacy in Africa Constructing the Security-Development Nexus.pdf?inline=true.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Peace Research Institute Oslo |title=New Perspectives on China’s Relations with the World |url=https://cdn.cloud.prio.org/files/4c1a6439-bf7a-42f4-b506-cf2269255d52/Chinas Multilateral Diplomacy in Africa Constructing the Security-Development Nexus.pdf?inline=true |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{peaceresearchinstituteoslondnew, author = {{Peace Research Institute Oslo}}, title = {{New Perspectives on China’s Relations with the World}}, institution = {Peace Research Institute Oslo}, url = {https://cdn.cloud.prio.org/files/4c1a6439-bf7a-42f4-b506-cf2269255d52/Chinas Multilateral Diplomacy in Africa Constructing the Security-Development Nexus.pdf?inline=true}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }