The world is more than a stage: foreign policy, development and spatial performativity in Ethiopia

Abstract

This paper seeks to reconcile performative theorizing, which captures the place of systems of thought on foreign policy practice, and broader sociological approaches that link networks and institutions across space, especially as they relate to the global economy. Once developed, the theory, which is termed here 'spatial performativity', is applied to recent efforts to promote industrialization through the development of special economic zones in Ethiopia. In doing so, attention is drawn to a burgeoning area of African and Chinese foreign policy and economic cooperation.

China as Exemplar: Justin Lin, New Structural Economics, and the Unorthodox Orthodoxy of the China Model

“…Much is certainly left to explore on the receiving end; namely, the specifics of how the Ethiopian government deploys NSE strategically and localizes it, which serve as crucial avenues for future research. And though we would emphasize the performative, networked, and social dimensions of how a constellation of actors are organized to produce the present outcome in Ethiopia without recognizing any veracity of NSE (Aberg and Becker 2019), it is clear that Ethiopia represents a case where China is seen as a model of economic development. Lin's “China Model”—that is, China's “approach” to economic development as understood by Lin from the perspective of NSE—is purportedly emulated by Ethiopia with great success.…”

“…SEZs are not new nor particularly Chinese in origin, though China has made significant use of them. But as Brautigam and Xiaoyang (2011, 30) note, “it is clear these zones [are] in part intended to fulfill soft‐power political goals, in particular demonstrating the efficacy of some aspects of China's development model.” Yet they do also serve the economic needs created by China's rising position in global value chains (Aberg and Becker 2019). If we look at the SEZs alone, a far more complex picture emerges of both China and NSE's theoretical relevance, analytically and as a policy guide.…”

“…It is clear that to understand the varying impact (even drivers) of China's presence in Africa requires being aware of the structures and processes across scales—from the hyper local to the global—within which all action occurs. That is, our analysis should recognize agents as embedded in context, webs of socio‐material, cultural, political, and economic processes and institutions (Aberg and Becker 2019). This is not only important for understanding Chinese FDI, but so too NSE and even Lin himself as the (now former) chief economist of the World Bank—a position that greatly aided his efforts to develop and promote both NSE and China.…”

“…As Fine and Van Waeyenberge (2013) dryly note, Lin never really succeeded in changing the Bank's policies and practices in line with his NSE. But from his position, and through networks of Chinese businesses and bureaucrats, Lin was able to put NSE into practice performatively (Aberg and Becker 2019). One does not have to accept the performativity thesis, however, to recognize the prestige of Lin's position and his plausible claim to intellectual authority in promoting both his theory and his Ethiopian test case.…”

Introduction to the Special Issue: Strategic Deployment of the China Model in Africa

“…This makes it clear why an examination of the “China Model” notion is critical. While scholars have yet to provide a clear answer to these questions, policy makers and experts—including former Chief Economist of the World Bank Justin Lin—argue that developing countries, and African countries in particular, can learn from China's development experience (Åberg and Becker 2019; Lin 2011, 2012; Lin and Treichel 2012; Lin and Wang 2015). Lin's argument finds resonance in that African leaders, especially in Ethiopia and Zimbabwe, have voiced their desire to adopt and follow the China model.…”