Ghana’s negotiations for a China–Ghana free trade deal have sparked a fierce national debate. Political leaders are hailing it as a breakthrough for exporters, while manufacturers warn of being swamped by cheaper Chinese imports. At the heart of the discussion lies a deeper question: how much power do African countries really have to shape their trade relationships with China?

To unpack both the deal and the broader question of “agency” in Africa–China relations, Eric & Cobus speak with Folashadé Soulé of the University of Oxford’s Global Economic Governance Program. She explains her new framework on five types of African agency, from presidential to civil society, and how African actors at every level use strategy, negotiation, and intent to influence outcomes with Beijing.

⏱️ CHAPTERS:

00:00 Introduction
04:22 The Free Trade Debate in Ghana
10:48 Non-Tariff Barriers & Export Reality Check
13:30 Africa’s Structural Challenge
17:00 Introducing Agency in Africa–China Relations
21:45 Five Typologies of Agency
28:10 Presidential vs. Executive Agency
34:00 Bureaucratic Agency
41:50 Civic & Civil Society Agency
48:15 The “Agency Turn”
53:40 Western Narratives & Misconceptions
1:01:20 Accountability, Corruption, Intentionality
1:08:10 Final Reflections

SHOW NOTES:

Cambridge University Press: The Study of Agency in Africa–China Relations: The Case for Typologies by Folashadé Soulé (open access)

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Folashadé Soulé on the Evolution of African Agency in China Relations

The China in Africa Podcast