Paper short abstract:

This paper tries to illuminate some of important questions why and how South Korea has attempted to focus on developing its soft power strategy toward Africa in the new millennium.

Paper long abstract:

The rise of China as an emergent global power in gaining access to energy and mineral resources is a main factor in reinforcing the use of South Korea's aid to Africa. Recognizing the limits of searching for ways of furthering its 'resource diplomacy' based mainly on economic pragmatism, yet, South Korean government has strived to utilize aid as a tool for soft power with a view to playing a bigger role in addressing global issues and aspiring to become a middle power in the sense that it is not regionally influential in spite of its growing powers. In this context, this paper tries to illuminate some of important questions why and how South Korea has attempted to focus on developing its soft power strategy toward Africa in the new millennium.

Paper short abstract:

This article tries to analyze Japan's soft power in Africa in terms of diplomatic and cultural strategies in Japanese organizations. Furthermore, this article contributes for comparative analysis on the issue of "Asian soft powers in Africa".

Paper long abstract:

As 21st century is occasionally expressed "the century of Asia and Africa", Asian presence has been radically increasing in Africa. Asian emergent countries have been focused in terms of its political and economic influence in Africa from the world. "China in Africa" and "India in Africa" have been the hottest issues of African studies through their economic and diplomatic presence. These issues are talked with some fears in western world, traditional hegemonic actors.

However, it is not sufficient to understand Asia - Africa relations without consideration on non-material factor. Soft power which is assured by hard power becomes more important element to consider Asia - Africa relations. This panel session aims to reflect over "Asian Soft Powers in Africa" to better understand Asia - Africa relationship and look future cooperation between two regions. This panel session tries to analyze soft powers of China, Japan, and South Korea in Africa.

Soft power has not been definitive element in Japan's foreign policy. However, Japan was eager to show its non-material capacity in Africa after Japan became the top donor country in 1990s.

This article tries to analyze Japan's soft power in Africa in terms of diplomatic and cultural strategies in Japanese organizations. Furthermore, this article contributes for comparative analysis on the issue of "Asian soft powers in Africa".

Paper short abstract:

China's state media, as an instrument of a grander soft power drive, is increasing their global influence. By understanding how the media strategy has evolved and is applied in the African context, it becomes clearer the factors that need consideration in order for real influence to take place.

Paper long abstract:

China is complimenting its outward trade and political engagements by adopting a soft power drive to communicate with foreign publics. The state media is such a soft power instrument that is leading in communicating China's point of view to Africa. The presentation seeks to understand the reasons behind the recent soft power drive and how the Chinese media involvement in Africa has adjusted to incorporate such a strategy. By exploring the Chinese media engagement in Africa, it will become apparent the challenges that need to be considered in order for meaningful soft power to expand and for the larger China-Africa relationship to prosper.

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Paper short abstract:

This paper compares Japan's aid policy to Angola and Mozambique and demonstrates why these two Lusophone countries are a good case for determining what has changed in Japan's aid policy to Africa as a result of the establishment of the Tokyo International Conference on Africa Development (TICAD).

Paper long abstract:

This paper compares Japan's aid policy to Angola and Mozambique before and after the TICAD. The argument of this paper is two fold: First, systemic changes combined with international and domestic factors led to a philosophical shift in Japan's foreign aid policy that was not oriented towards development assistance in post-conflict situations but simply as the provision of short-term humanitarian assistance. Second, that Angola and Mozambique are a good case for determining what has changed in Japan's aid policy to Africa as a result of Japan's increasing security role toward these two conflict-affected states, and of the establishment of the TICAD. These two Lusophone countries can be considered a 'model' of the TICAD framework. It concludes that although maintaining the political and resource interests of the past, Japan adopted new international norms to approaching development but applied its own methods which emphasizes the applicability of the Asian experiences in Africa, peacebuilding, and human security as a component of Japan's foreign policy that was not seen before the TICAD. The TICAD has boosted Japan's 'soft-power' diplomatic action in international relations as inspired new ways of thinking about international cooperation. The paper examines chronologically Japanese foreign aid, security, and development policy towards Angola and Mozambique from 1960 to 2010, divided into five phases. It then examines Japan's participation in Angola and Mozambique's peacekeeping operations, compares Japan's aid flows with major donors, outlines Japan's aid characteristics to both countries, the growing role of NGOs, and explains Japanese assistance within the TICAD framework.