Dissertation
Neo-colonialism or win-win cooperation? A mixed methods study of Kenyans’ public opinion toward China-Kenya bilateral cooperation
University of Iowa
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), University of Iowa
Summer 2024
DOI: 10.25820/etd.007676
Abstract
China-Kenya bilateral relations have been going on since Kenya gained independence in 1963. This cooperation has been exacerbated in the last two decades with China now Kenya’s largest trade partner. In this dissertation, I study how Kenyans access information about Chinese-funded infrastructure and Chinese loans to Kenya. Additionally, in line with the diffusion of innovation theory and the world systems theory, I studied perceived exploitation by looking at Kenyans’ perception of China-Kenya bilateral relations as either exhibiting core-like or semi-periphery traits. Using an exploratory sequential missed methods research design, I conducted the study in two phases, with phase 1 informing the construction of a scale that was used to conduct a survey for phase 2. This study was based on concepts and validated measures from diffusion of innovation theory, world systems theory, and agenda-setting theory.
In phase 1, I conducted 34 in-depth interviews in Nairobi during the summer of 2022. Using an inductive approach, I interviewed Nairobi residents on how they access information about China-Kenya relations in terms of Chinese-funded infrastructure and Chinese loans to Kenya. I also studied how they perceive the relationship between China and Kenya in terms of infrastructure funded by China and Chinese loans to Kenya, perception of China as a country, and participants’ preference between China-Kenya and Western-Kenya bilateral relations.
Participants said that they access information about Chinese-funded infrastructure mainly through visibility and use. They also mentioned learning from the media, politicians, government, learning from peers, and through social media. They said that they access information about loans from mainstream media and social media. They also mentioned learning about Chinese loans to Kenya from politicians, the government, and learning from peers. Participants viewed Chinese-funded infrastructure as more beneficial rather than imperialistic.
On the other hand, participants viewed Chinese loans to Kenya as more imperialistic with China setting a debt trap likely to lead to neo-colonialism. In terms of preference between China-Kenya relations and the West-Kenya relations, participants had mixed feelings. Some of the participants expressed support for China-Kenya relations, others supported the West-Kenya relations, others supported both while others saw both as neo-colonialists after resource exploitation with Kenya standing to lose. I used the findings from this phase 1 study and scales and concepts from the diffusion of innovation theory and the world systems theory to construct a scale that was used to study phase 2.
In Phase 2 of this dissertation, I started by studying the difference in how Kenyans access information about Chinese-funded infrastructure and Chinese loans to Kenya. The findings indicate that there was no statistical mean difference between accessing information about Chinese-funded infrastructure and Chinese loans to Kenya from the mainstream media. I also observed that Kenyans mostly access information about Chinese loans to Kenya from the government, politicians, peers, and social media. On the other hand, they accessed information about Chinese-funded infrastructures mostly through visibility and use.
For infrastructure, I observed that relative advantage and influence from peers had a significant positive causal relationship with opinion towards Chinese-funded infrastructure, while perceived knowledge had a negative significant causal relationship with perceived exploitation. Compatibility and visibility did not have a significant influence. For loans, compatibility, and perceived knowledge had a significant positive causal relationship with the perceived exploitation towards Chinese loans to Kenya. Visibility (in this case, accessibility) had a significant negative causal relation with perceived exploitation. Relative advantage and peers did not have a significant causal effect on the endogenous variable.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Neo-colonialism or win-win cooperation? A mixed methods study of Kenyans’ public opinion toward China-Kenya bilateral cooperation
- Creators
- Frankline Matanji
- Contributors
- Melissa Tully (Advisor)Kate Magsamen-Conrad (Advisor)Louisa Ha (Committee Member)Sujatha Sosale (Committee Member)Rachel Young (Committee Member)
- Resource Type
- Dissertation
- Degree Awarded
- Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), University of Iowa
- Degree in
- Mass Communication
- Date degree season
- Summer 2024
- Publisher
- University of Iowa
- DOI
- 10.25820/etd.007676
- Number of pages
- xiv, 228 pages
- Copyright
- Copyright 2024 Frankline Matanji
- Language
- English
- Date submitted
- 07/23/2024
- Description illustrations
- Illustrations, tables, graphs, charts
- Description bibliographic
- Includes bibliographical references (pages 161-182).
- Public Abstract (ETD)
The cooperation between China and Kenya has been on the rise for the last two decades. China is the lead foreign funder of infrastructure and a source of loans. In this dissertation, I study how Kenyans access information about Chinese-funded infrastructure and Chinese loans to Kenya. I also studied Kenyans’ perceptions of Chinese-funded infrastructure and Chinese loans to Kenya. I introduce the concept of “perceived exploitation” to study Kenyans’ view toward the bilateral relation between China and Kenya. Findings and results from the interviews and survey indicate that Kenyans mostly access information about Chinese-funded infrastructure by either using or seeing them. They also access information about Chinese-funded infrastructure from politicians, government, mainstream media, social media, and peers. They access information about loans mainly from the mainstream and social media. They also access information about the loans from politicians, the government, and peers. Participants expressed confidence in Chinese-funded infrastructure, viewing them as beneficial to the Kenyan economy. On the other hand, they expressed concerns about Chinese loans to Kenya, arguing that China is likely to use the loans for leverage.
- Academic Unit
- School of Journalism and Mass Communication
- Record Identifier
- 9984698052902771
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