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Explaining the rise of 'human rights' in analyses of Sino-African relations

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Breslin, Shaun and Taylor, Ian. (2008) Explaining the rise of 'human rights' in analyses of Sino-African relations. Review of African Political Economy, Vol.35 (No.115). pp. 59-71. ISSN 0305-6244

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Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/03056240802011469

Abstract

Popular perceptions of China and its global role are often shaped by two words: 'made in'. Yet this vision of China that focuses primarily on Beijing as a coming economic superpower is relatively new, and it is not that long ago that two other words tended to dominate debates on and discourses of China: 'human rights'. To be sure, real interest in human rights in China was never the only issue in other states' relations with China, nor consistently pursued throughout the years (Nathan, 1994). Nor did human rights totally subsequently disappear from the political agenda.1 Nevertheless, the rhetorical importance of human rights - perhaps best epitomised by the narrow defeat of resolutions condemning Chinese policy in 1995 at the Human Rights Council in Geneva - stands in stark contrast to the relative silence thereafter as the bottom line of most states' relations with Beijing took on ever greater economic dimensions.

Item Type:

Journal Article

Subjects:

H Social Sciences > HC Economic History and Conditions

Divisions:

Faculty of Social Sciences > Politics and International Studies

Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH):

Human rights -- China, China -- Foreign relations -- Africa, Africa -- Foreign relations -- China, China -- Foreign economic relations -- Africa , Africa -- Foreign economic relations -- China

Journal or Publication Title:

Review of African Political Economy

Publisher:

Routledge

ISSN:

0305-6244

Official Date:

March 2008

Dates:

Date	Event
March 2008	Published

Volume:

Vol.35

Number:

No.115

Page Range:

pp. 59-71

Identifier:

10.1080/03056240802011469

Status:

Peer Reviewed

Access rights to Published version:

Open Access

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