China's normative power and soft power: the case of Ethiopia and Senegal

This thesis analyses China's normative power and soft power in the context of its engagement in Ethiopia and Senegal. The aim is to identify what narratives China uses in its official communication and how these narratives contribute to shaping its image as a normative power. Methodologically, the thesis uses qualitative content analysis focusing on official documents and media outputs. Statements and press releases from the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs serve as primary sources, supplemented by articles from Ethiopian and Senegalese media that reflect on China's presence and perceptions in the local context. The results of the thesis show that China does not act as a bearer of universal values in the sense of the Western model, but builds its normative authority through an emphasis on pragmatism, non-interference and equality. The thesis concludes by suggesting that it is this form of communication that finds considerable resonance in the African context, and thus contributes to the strengthening of Chinese influence beyond traditional forms of power politics.