China's influence on the autocratisation of hybrid regimes in Africa

Mgr. Iva Sojková

Doctoral thesis

Abstract:

The international dimension of autocratization is a largely unexplored area in contemporary research devoted to explaining the “third wave of autocratization” in the world. The literature examining the international influence of authoritarian states on autocratization emerged rather recently and mostly focused on countries such as Russia, China, and Venezuela and their activities in their immediate neighborhood. The question of whether and how these states undermine democratic progress in distant regions has received little attention. With the use of mixed methods research, combining qualitative and quantitative approaches, the author seeks to determine whether the People’s Republic of China influences the autocratization of African hybrid regimes. To avoid conceptual and theoretical ambiguities, the author divides the research into active (autocracy promotion, democracy resistance) and passive influences (autocratic linkage, emulation, extraversion) from the external power standpoint. Findings show that cooperation with China influences the autocratization of African hybrid regimes. However, this differs across the influences and mechanisms Chinese and African actors employ. Overall, the international authoritarian influence examined in this thesis can be described as an autocratic synergy between African states and China. Thus, on one side is the authoritarian power, China, actively seeking to influence African elites ideologically and through responding to incentives that possibly threaten the regime abroad. On the other side, African elites welcome Chinese alternative finance free from political conditionalities, presenting opportunities for their own enrichment, distribution of patronage, and control and financial advantages over the opposition.

Keywords

China, Africa, Sino-African relations, Zambia, Autocratization, Hybrid regimes, Gray zone, Electoral authoritarianism

Language used: Czech

Date on which the thesis was submitted / produced: 14. 12. 2023

Thesis defence

• Date of defence: 15. 3. 2024
• Supervisor: Mgr. Jan Prouza, Ph.D.
• Reader: Jan Záhořík, István Tarrósy

University of Hradec Králové

Faculty of Arts

Doctoral programme / field:
Politologie / Africká studia