Foreign Policy Approaches of China and U.S.A. towards Ethiopia Since 2018: a Comparative Analysis
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Date
2024-06-01
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
The foreign policy interests of China and U.S.A. towards Ethiopia have been anchored on geo
strategic interests. Despite having similar strategic interests in Ethiopia, China and the U.S.
pursued different foreign policy approaches towards Ethiopia. What accounts for the divergence
of the approaches was not explored very well. Therefore, this study aimed at explaining the
divergence in foreign policy approaches of China and U.S.A. towards Ethiopia since 2018. A
qualitative methodology, a comparative method of research, thematic and content analysis are
utilized as part of the research design in this study. Primary sources including personal interviews,
policy documents, official reports, speeches of leaders, and secondary sources of data are
analyzed using the tools of foreign policy and international relations theories. The analysis
revealed that China pursues an approach of detachment to deal with internal conflict, non
interference in domestic affairs, state centric approach in its engagement, developmentalist
approach in the administration of foreign development assistance and high regard for Westphalian
conception of state sovereignty. In contrast, the US pursued a policy of humanitarian intervention
in its response to domestic conflicts, unilateral realism in its response to emergency, safety-net
approach in the administration of humanitarian aid, the state-in-society approach in its
engagement, and coercive power in enforcing its desire. The result indicated that the divergence
of the foreign policy approaches of China and U.S.A. mainly resulted from differences in political
culture, foreign policy priorities, role conception in the international system, historical
experiences, self-image, strategic rivalry, differences in foreign policy decision making
mechanisms and Ethiopia’s behavior.
Keywords: foreign policy approach/behavior, U.S. foreign policy towards Ethiopia,
Chinese foreign policy towards Ethiopia, comparative foreign policy approach
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Keywords
foreign policy approach/behavior, U.S. foreign policy towards Ethiopia, Chinese foreign policy towards Ethiopia, comparative foreign policy approach