China’s National Image In Botswana

Given the significance of a country’s national image in international relations,governments increasingly prioritise the employment of soft power initiatives to cultivate a favourable public perception of their country.Soft power refers to a country’s ability to gain influence through its attractive culture,economic strength,and foreign policy rather than through the use of force.It is well-known that China’s ancient cultural heritage is powerful,appealing not only to Asian but also to western and African cultures,and that it continues to exert a significant influence.However,with China’s expanding political and economic influence in Africa,a range of positive and negative perspectives of China’s presence in the region have emerged.Various reports indicate that western opponents,particularly the United States and some Africans,have criticised China for exploitation of natural resources,neo-colonialism,poor infrastructural workmanship,and sale of counterfeit products on the African continent.In addition,the western narrative of resource exploitation is now accompanied by accusations of “debt traps” in Africa perpetrated by China.In order to counter negative western narratives and enhance African perceptions of China,the Chinese government has invested billions of dollars in a variety of soft power initiatives across the continent,including Botswana.Therefore,this qualitative and quantitative study examined how China shapes its national image in Botswana using soft power as a theoretical framework.Constructivism theory was applied to comprehend the development of China’s soft power strategy in the China-Botswana relationship.Firstly,the researcher utilised a case study of the Afrobarometer survey done with 1,200 randomly selected Batswana individuals in 2014 and2019 to understand the common and changing perceptions of China in Botswana.While the study chose the Confucius Institute at the University of Botswana(CIUB)and the Chinese Government Scholarship Programme(CGSP)to investigate their effectiveness in altering negative opinions of China in Botswana.They were identified as the Chinese soft power instruments that were largely engaged in Botswana.For this purpose,primary data to evaluate the efficiency of the aforementioned soft power tools were gathered through an online questionnaire administered to a sample of 52 CIUB students and 52 CGSP grantees.Secondary data was collected through electronic books,journal articles,dissertations,and official government websites such as the websites of the Botswana and China foreign affairs ministries and Chinese embassies.The key findings indicate that CIUB and CGSP have a positive impact on China’s national image in Botswana.According to the findings of the study,CGSP and CIUB’s educational and cultural programmes significantly altered Botswana’s negative perceptions of China with regards to Chinese “counterfeit” goods,shoddy infrastructure,“debt traps” and imperialism.Furthermore,these instruments have assisted in reducing language differences between Batswana and Chinese nationals thus enhancing China-Botswana relations.Moreover,the study discovered that both CIUB and CGSP have played a significant role in countering the soft power influence of the West,notably the United States,in Botswana.The survey results provided further support for the study’s argument,viewed through a constructivist lens,that China’s soft power is likely to succeed in Botswana because it has been established on solid grounds of Botswana and China’s shared identities and interests,including a shared history as victims of western imperialism/colonialism,shared interests to counter the western hegemony,and shared identities as developing countries.Nevertheless,despite CGSP and CIUB’s great attempts to partially counter negative perceptions of China in Botswana,China’s image still suffers from recurring western media coverage such as "debt traps" and local perceptions including counterfeiting and poor infrastructure delivery.However,Chinese retail products are viewed positively by low-income families,and China’s infrastructure aid is commended mostly by members of the general public.Overall,the study suggests that perceptions of China in Botswana are complex.Therefore,on the basis of the survey results,it is proposed that the Chinese government undertake scholarships geared explicitly at correcting the western negative narratives that fuel the unfavourable perceptions in Botswana that the CIUB and CGSP have not sufficiently addressed.Furthermore,CIUB can partner with public schools across Botswana to teach Chinese language and culture.This will increase its footprint throughout the country and allow it to reach a larger population,including rural residents.Moreover,incorporating Chinese language and culture in the curriculum of Botswana’s junior and senior high schools will educate the younger generation to understand Chinese society beyond the previously mentioned misconceptions,as they represent the future of Sino-Botswana relations.