China—The Champion of the Developing World: A Study of China's new Development Model and its Role in Changing Global Economic Governance

Abstract

One of the key questions in international political economy is how the ascent of the People's Republic of China (PRC) will affect global economic governance. The rise of the PRC, the success of its new development model, and the attempts to replicate that model in regions, such as Africa, have fueled a new round of debates concerning the sustainability of the transatlantic norms, ideas, and institutions that have dominated global economic governance. As several regions are attempting to adopt aspects of the PRC's model, the success of China's development model represents a new force in defining the rules of the game. Using role theory, this study examines the PRC's self-described role as the "Champion of the Developing World" in global economic governance and uncovers how the PRC's new development model affects the PRC's current position within and outside the architecture of global economic governance.

Note from the Editors

“…Este estudio exhaustivo sobre la "Ruta de la Seda Digital" de China es digno de mención tanto por su extraordinario alcance como por su análisis detallado. Por lo tanto, atraerá no solo a académicos especializados interesados en el modelo de China (ver, por ejemplo, Hodzi y Åberg 2020; Babones 2020; Davidsson 2020; Duggan 2020). También dará forma a la imagen de China en el extranjero (ver también Fong y Sakib 2021), así como las variantes y la práctica de poder blando, o relaciones/comercio chino‐africano y mercados emergentes (ver también Asongu 2016; Ganda 2020).…”

“…将焦点从硬实力和物质世界转移到数字世界，Yung‐Yung Chang(2023)在《中国之外的中国——建立中国特色数字秩序?》一文中探究了中国在数字化世界中的话语权 (另见Zeng, Stevens, and Chen 2017)。这篇对中国“数字丝绸之路”的全面研究包含了不寻常的研究范围和详尽的分析。因此，该研究不仅会吸引对以下方面感兴趣的专业学者，包括中国模式 (例如，Hodzi and Åberg 2020; Babones 2020; Davidsson 2020; Duggan 2020)，中国海外形象的塑造 (另见Fong and Sakib 2021)，软实力的不同类型及实践，或中非关系/贸易和新兴市场 (另见Asongu 2016; Ganda 2020)。该研究还为那些对下列主题感兴趣的读者提供有用信息，这些主题包括: 数字威权主义 (另见Hellmeier 2016)、网络治理规范 (另见Glen 2021)、主权、监控技术的最新扩散、政府和社会资本合作、研发、以及中国对 “华盛顿共识” 造成的多方面挑战。…”

“…This comprehensive study on China's “Digital Silk Road” is noteworthy for both its extraordinary range and detailed analysis. It will thus appeal not merely to specialized scholars interested in the China model (see, e.g., Babones, 2020; Davidsson, 2020; Duggan, 2020; Hodzi & Åberg, 2020), shaping China's image abroad (see also Fong & Sakib, 2021), the variants and practice of soft power, or Sino‐African relations/trade and emerging markets (see also Asongu, 2016; Ganda, 2020) but it also proves an engaging and informative read for those interested in digital authoritarianism (see also Hellmeier, 2016), cyber‐governance norms (see also Glen, 2021), sovereignty, the latest proliferation of surveillance technologies, public–private partnerships, R&D, and China's multifaceted challenge to the Washington Consensus.…”

From ‘debt diplomacy’ to donorship? China’s changing role in global development

“…4 China's own development trajectory has equally become a main source of China's 'soft power' projection (Repnikova, 2022: 6). Aimed at fostering Chinese hegemony across the Global South, the Chinese state has positioned the country as 'the champion of the developing world' (Duggan, 2020b). Breslin (2021: 23-34) argues that under President Xi '[t]here is also now a greater appetite for arguing that there is something special about China's development experience that make it something that others should learn from'.…”

Navigating ontological (in)security in EU–Africa relations

“…Moreover, unlike the EU, China does not link its development aid or investment policy to human rights reform, good governance or climate change action, usually framed as European values. This has resulted in offering an alternative source of capital for African governments who would be unwilling to introduce such reforms (Duggan, 2020). However, it is the "success" of the Chinese model of development that threatens the EU's normative position in Africa.…”