THE ROLE OF SOFT POWER IN AFRICA: CASE STUDY OF CHINA’S HEALTH DIPLOMACY IN NIGERIA (2014-2020)

Abstract

Nigeria‘s relations with the rest of the world are not limited to ties with past colonial powers such as the United Kingdom and the West. In recent decades, China has become a global competitor challenging colonial powers and the United States. Beijing has also emerged as a major player on the continent, establishing footprints in many African countries. Chinese institutions have ramped up infrastructure development, loan support, and aid delivery to nearly all African states. This is presumably to improve China‘s global reputation. As a case study, the thesis focused on China‘s health diplomacy with Nigeria during the Ebola epidemic and the Coronavirus pandemic. The period between 2014 and 2020 has been a significant period for China‘s relations with Nigeria, with both opportunities and challenges. The thesis focuses on the concept of ‗soft power‘ adopted by the neo-liberal American scholar, Joseph Nye. It argues that China is using health diplomacy as a tool and strategy for boosting its relationship with Nigeria. A quantitative research method has been applied through a survey to understand the perception of the Nigerian population towards China. As a result, a significant conclusion from the study argues that China's influence in Nigeria is effective. However, many Nigerians still have an unfavorable opinion about Chinese soft power in the country.