Political Ideology and Cooperation: China - Zimbabwe Relations post Mugabe Era

Abstract

The aim of this study was to examine the role that ideology has played in the cooperation of Zimbabwe and China post the Mugabe era, or the Second Republic, as the establishment in Harare likes to be identified. Historical ties between China and Zimbabwe goes back to the days of the war of independence for Zimbabwe and the Look East Foreign Policy adopted by Zimbabwe during the Mugabe era necessitated the inquiry into how ideology has influenced cooperation between the two nations. The study used secondary research data that is desktop research was carried out by going through journal articles, newspaper articles and other credible publications. The findings reveal that there is little ideological similarities between Zimbabwe and China with the cultural and ideological exchange between the two nations being from China to Zimbabwe and Zimbabwe has had no evident influence on China culturally. Whilst the two nations have been under varied USA sanctions, which has resulted in them banding together, they have also been accused of suppressing human rights and going against principles of democracy. China has generally treated Zimbabwe the same way it has treated other world countries under its soft power diplomacy and noninterventionist principles. However, the role played by China in Zimbabwe’s coup that ousted the late President Mugabe and China’s increased role in global peace efforts suggests a shift in its policy and ideology. Zimbabwe does not have the moral, economic nor military power to influence global events like China. The study concluded that the ideology was at the basis of the relationship between Zimbabwe and China, rather, it is the exploitation of Zimbabwe’s resources that mainly characterises the relationship between the two countries.