The challenges and imperative of developing, promoting and appropriating Sino-African studies in the current context of the reconfiguration of international relations
CALL FOR PAPERS
Special Issue
Coordination:
François WASSOUNI 1 & Jean GONONDO 2
1 University of Maroua, Cameroon
Université Senghor de la Francophonie d’Alexandrie, Egypt
Université Américaine des Sciences et du Développement International, Haïti
Fellow at Käte Hamburger Kolleg Kulturelle Praktiken der Reparation (CURE), Germany
2 University of Maroua, Cameroon.
The challenges and imperative of developing, promoting and appropriating Sino-African studies in the current context of the reconfiguration of international relations
1. Rationale
One of the most striking developments in Africa's contemporary history, especially over the last four decades, is undoubtedly China's rise in Africa by becoming the most prominent and privileged bilateral partner of most countries of the continent.
For more than fifteen years, China has become Africa's largest trading partner, with total trade reaching $295.6 billion in 2024, an increase of 10.5% compared to 2023. For more than fifteen years, China has been Africa's leading trading partner, with total trade reaching $295.6 billion in 2024, an increase of 4.8% over the course of that year (Aurégan, 2025; 2024; FOCAC, 2025).
China's breakthrough has also been accompanied by numerous cooperation agreements leading to the development of many infrastructures, which in turn has resulted in significant Chinese migration throughout the region. This explains their presence in the business sector, selling a variety of products. In the wake of China's all-out deployment, several areas have been created across Africa in the fields of trade, infrastructure, culture, aesthetics, education and health, to name but a few. The Chinese presence is increasingly noticeable and active, and it is with good reason that some intellectual circles have come to refer to this as the Chinese era in Africa (Aurégan, 2024; Mbabia et Wasssouni, 2016), with a plethora of sectors where the Chinese are present to the detriment of former powers such as France, England, the USA and many others, who do not take kindly their decline. This has given rise to the term ‘China bashing’, a campaign to denigrate and demonise China, led by American neoconservatives and other Westerners, which, according to Michel Mazet (Wolff, 2023; 2012; Iwasaki, 2011), is evidence of a strategic principle as old as the world itself.
China's presence in Africa, or Chinafrique (Géoconfluences, 2025), has also sparked considerable interest among researchers from all walks of life in this important issue of contemporary international relations, fuelling debates, controversies and diverse points of view. China's presence in Africa and Sino-African relations have thus become topics that are increasingly occupying research in contemporary Sinology, in a context of global geopolitical reconfiguration. One need only look at the volume of publications, research networks and scientific projects on both the Chinese and Western sides, as well as in Africa, even if things seem less intense than elsewhere.[1]
In any case, the scale of Sino-African relations today and the geopolitical and geostrategic issues surrounding them justify the scientific excitement surrounding them, with researchers from a wide variety of disciplines. Without attempting to provide an exhaustive inventory of what has been produced to date, which would be a tedious exercise and unrelated to the perspective of this call for contributions, it seems appropriate to encourage reflection on this phenomenon from a forward-looking and functionalist perspective. In the current context of the reconfiguration of international relations and global geopolitics with the emergence of new powers such as China, India, the USSR, Brazil, Turkey and others working to establish a new world order, the activism of these countries towards Africa, and that of China in particular, are issues of great heuristic, geopolitical and geostrategic interest.
While it is accepted that the slogan ‘win-win’ is at the heart of Sino-African relations, the fact remains that this dynamic of great interest does not seem to be understood or attract the attention of all stakeholders from the point of view of a deeper understanding through research for the purposes of relevant, strategic and useful decision-making. While research in the West and in China itself is increasingly active and well-funded, this is not the case in Africa, where African-oriented sinology is in its infancy and seems to be faltering. There are very few research centres and laboratories dedicated to this field, as elsewhere. Moreover, there is almost no synergy between researchers. Until now, African states have not had a culture of promoting research and appropriating its results for decision-making purposes in the face of phenomena that sometimes affect both their future and their destiny. This is why Sino-African studies are only a matter for academia and research, rarely connected to the public authorities that govern diplomacy with issues relating to bilateral and multilateral cooperation. In principle, research should be at the forefront and accompany diplomatic efforts with the aim of helping to understand the issues at stake in order to provide strategic advice on all initiatives relating to Sino-African cooperation, as well as those of other powers.
Clear understanding on all sides would undoubtedly help to avoid many of the pitfalls surrounding certain cooperation agreements. This was one of the key lessons of FOCAC 2024, which emphasised the urgent need to rethink Africa's role in Sino-African relations. This is clearly evident in Paul Nantulya's arguments on the website of the Centre for Strategic Studies in Africa: "To strengthen the impact of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, African countries need a more coherent engagement strategy with China, as well as greater transparency, public awareness and action in August 2024. He expressed the same credo in October 2024, noting that ‘to overcome the current asymmetry in Africa-China relations, it will be necessary to institutionalise stronger and more transparent African monitoring of commitments, ensure strategic representation and leverage African expertise’. These pleas, in the form of strategic recommendations, are aimed at the research community and those in power in Africa.
Based on past experiences with cooperation agreements between African countries and former colonial powers, where many multisectoral cooperation agreements were marred by inconsistencies and are now widely criticised, it is both timely and imperative for this country to surround itself with experts in the field of building and projecting relations with emerging partners. Hence the justification for addressing the issues at stake and the imperative of promoting and appropriating Sino-African studies in the context of the reconfiguration of international relations.
So why are Sino-African studies of particular interest in China and Western countries, with substantial funding, while in Africa they struggle to develop and attract attention? Why is it imperative to develop research in this area and to appropriate it in the current context? What are the dangers of neglecting research, documentation and appropriation of such studies for a continent like Africa, which has become a major issue in international relations today? These are all questions that we want to raise for reflection, in order to attract the attention of those in positions of power, researchers and civil society, and to provide tools to aid decision-making in their strategic and forward-looking ambitions in the field of international cooperation. This is in line with the editorial policy of the journal of African studies, which, beyond its purely scientific vocation, also aims to be a space for the production of knowledge for strategic and geostrategic purposes.
2. Objectives of the study
2.1. General objective
To conduct an in-depth analysis of the challenges involved in the development, promotion and appropriation of Sino-African studies, in order to better understand their impact on academic, scientific and cultural cooperation between Africa and China.
2.2. Specific objectives
SO1: Study the historical, political and economic dynamics underlying the development of Sino-African studies.
SO2: Evaluate strategies for promoting and disseminating Sino-African research in academic institutions.
SO3: Identify obstacles and levers for the local appropriation of knowledge resulting from these collaborations.
SO4: Explore interdisciplinary and innovative practices that promote equitable co-production of knowledge.
SO5: Measure the concrete effects of these studies on public policy, development and Sino-African international relations.
3. Areas of study
Researchers and communities interested in this issue may submit proposals relating to the following areas and many others, depending on their research interests:
Focus 1: Conduct a critical review of studies relating to Sino-African cooperation and its mechanisms in Africa and elsewhere, highlighting the thematic focus.
Focus 2: Compare Sino-African studies in China and Africa, and in the West and Africa, to produce a critical synthesis of their orientations and challenges;
Focus 3: Identify centres for Sino-African studies in Africa, their orientations, strengths and weaknesses in terms of organisation, production and funding, and compare them with results elsewhere;
Focus 4: assess the levels of dissemination, appropriation and use of Sino-African studies in China, Africa and the West, as well as the level of connection between research, public authorities, civil society and diplomacy;
Focus 5: formulate forward-looking, strategic and geostrategic proposals that can serve as decision-making tools for African countries, China, the West, other countries, academia and research circles in the context of developing a model of cooperation in line with the reconfiguration of international relations, etc.
4. Target audience
This book is primarily intended for a diverse academic and professional audience:
- Researchers and lecturers specialising in African studies, Sinology, international relations, social sciences and development.
- Doctoral students and young researchers wishing to contribute to the emergence of new knowledge on Sino-African dynamics.
- Experts and practitioners involved in academic, cultural and scientific cooperation between China and Africa.
- Stakeholders from public institutions, NGOs, think tanks and international organisations involved in education and research policies in Africa and China.
- Advanced master's or doctoral students interested in the interdisciplinary issues of Sino-African studies.
5. Submission guidelines
- Article proposals and manuscripts must be submitted exclusively via the website:
https://sino-africanstudies.com
- The first page of articles must include:
- The title (and subtitle, if applicable) in English and French
- The authors' names and affiliations (full name of the institution + country, e.g. University of Maroua, Cameroon)
- Abstracts (approximately 150 words) in English and French
- 3 to 5 keywords in English and French
- Format and style to be followed:
- Centaur font, size 12 for the body text, size 12 in bold for titles, size 10 for footnotes
- Line spacing of 1.15, margins justified on the left and right
- Short quotations (<4 lines) in French quotation marks (‘’), long quotations indented with font size 10
- References according to APA 7th edition standards, complete bibliography at the end
- No double line breaks between paragraphs, limited footnotes
- No italics, bold or underlining in the text (except italics for book titles or foreign words)
- Recommended length: articles of 6,000 to 8,000 words.
- Accepted languages: English and French.
6. Schedule
- Publication of call for papers: 28 September 2025
- Deadline for submission of proposals (abstracts): 20 October 2025
- Notification of acceptance of proposals: 31 October 2025
- Submission of full manuscripts: 20 November 2025
- Return of evaluations and requests for corrections to authors: 30 November 2025
- Deadline for submission of corrected versions: 20 December 2025
- Final publication of the work: 31 December 2025
7. Scientific evaluation procedure
- All manuscripts received will undergo double-blind evaluation to ensure impartiality, meaning that neither the authors nor the reviewers will be identified.
- The scientific committee, composed of recognised experts in the fields of Sino-African studies, will guarantee the rigour and scientific quality of the evaluations.
- The main evaluation criteria will focus on the relevance of the subject, the originality of the approach, the methodology, the quality of the argumentation, the clarity of the writing and compliance with academic standards.
- Authors will receive detailed comments and may be asked to make changes before publication.
- The committee reserves the right to reject proposals that do not meet editorial or scientific criteria.
8. Practical information
For any questions regarding the call for papers or article submissions, please contact the editorial committee at the following addresses:
9. Copyright and publication
The Journal of Sino-African Studies (JSAS), ISSN-E: 2791-3546, DOI Prefix 10.56377, guarantees respect for copyright.
Selected contributions will be published under licence, with mandatory attribution to the authors.
The final publication will comply with the journal's editorial standards, with clear attribution of the DOI and inclusion in academic databases.
10. Coordination team for the collective work
• Coordinators
Prof. Wassouni François, History, Faculty of Arts, Literature and Humanities, University of Maroua, Cameroon.
Dr Gonondo Jean, Chinese Language Teaching, Department of Foreign Languages, Higher Teachers’ Training College, University of Maroua, Cameroon.
• Scientific Committee
- Prof. Bachir Bouba, Sociology of Education, Department of Education Sciences, Higher Teachers’ Training College, University of Maroua, Cameroon;
- Prof. Béché Emmanuel, Sociology of Educational Technologies, Department of Education Sciences, Higher Teachers’ Training College, University of Maroua, Cameroon;
- Prof. David Mills, Pedagogy, Department of Education, University of Oxford, England;
- Prof. Holl Augustin F.C., Archaeology, Department of Anthropology and Ethnology, Distinguished Professor at University of Xiamen, China;
- Prof. Ibrahima Niang, Sociology, Cheikh Anta Diop University of Dakar, Senegal;
- Prof. Kamdem Emmanuel, Economics, Pan-African Institute for Development, Cameroon;
- Prof. Kossoumna Liba'a Natali, Geography, Pastoralism and Territorial Dynamics, University of Maroua, Cameroon;
- Prof. Liu Aisheng, Studies of Higher Education, Tin Ka Ping Educational Science Research Institute, Zhejiang Normal University, China;
- Prof. Liu Bingdong, Comparative Education, Faculty of Foreign Languages and Literatures, Longdong University, Gansu, China;
- Prof. Lucia Candelise, FNS LACCUS Research Fellow, ISS, University of Lausanne, Co-editor-in-chief of Anthropologie & Santé;
- Prof. Maura David, History, University of Yaoundé 1, Cameroon;
- Prof. Nkolo Foé, Department of Philosophy, Higher Teachers’ Training College, University of Yaoundé 1, Cameroon;
- Prof. Nkolo Ndjodo Léon-Marie, Philosophy, Higher Teachers’ Training College, University of Maroua, Cameroon;
- Prof. Pahimi Patrice, History, Department of History, Higher Teachers’ Training College, University of Maroua, Cameroon;
- Prof. Pokam Hilaire de Prince, Political Science, Faculty of Legal and Political Sciences, University of Dschang, Cameroon;
- Prof. Saibou Issa, History, Faculty of Arts, Letters and Humanities, University of Maroua, Cameroon;
- Prof. Tewéché Abel, Geography, Department of Geography, University of Garoua, Cameroon;
- Prof. Yoro Diallo, Political Science, Institute of African Studies, Zhejiang Normal University, China;
- Prof. Zhang Juan, Economics, Institute of International Business, Shanghai University of International Business and Economics, Shanghai, China;
- Prof. Zheng Song, Education, Institute of Comparative and International Education, Zhejiang Normal University, China.
• Review Committee
- Dr Boutché Jean-Pierre, African Languages, Department of Foreign Languages, Higher Teachers’ Training College, University of Maroua, Cameroon;
- Dr Donkeng Nazo Armel, Comparative Education, Zhejiang Normal University, China;
- Dr Dzanvoula Chéri Thibaut Gael, Education, National Institute for Educational Research and Action, Brazzaville-Congo;
- Dr Elhaj Ahmed Khaled, Literature/Translation, Department of Oriental Languages (Chinese section), University of Carthage, Tunisia;
- Dr Ganava André, Sociology, Faculty of Arts, Letters and Humanities, University of Maroua, Cameroon;
- Dr Guemkam O. Diane, Linguistics and Applied Linguistics, Faculty of Arts, Letters and Humanities, University of Maroua, Cameroon;
- Dr Hamidou Bappa (Language, Department of English Language and Literature, Higher Teachers’ Training College, University of Maroua, Cameroon);
- Dr Keubou Francis Désiré, Anthropology, Institut Supérieur de Philosophie Saint-Joseph-Mukassa, Cameroon;
- Dr Longmené Fopa Arnaud (History, University of Dschang, Cameroon);
- Dr Mambi Magnack Jules, African Literature, Department of French Language and Literature, University of Maroua, Cameroon;
- Dr Mahamat Ali Alhadji, Literature, Department of Foreign Languages, Higher Teachers’ Training College, University of Maroua, Cameroon;
- Dr Ngha Nji Joefrey (Applied Linguistics, Department of English Language and Literature, Higher Teachers’ Training College, University of Maroua, Cameroon);
- Dr Nteanjemgnigni Yaya, History, Department of History, Higher Teachers’ Training College, University of Maroua, Cameroon;
- Dr Sun Yuan, Philosophy of Education, Suzhou University of Science and Technology, Jiangsu, China;
- Dr Tiava Nandrasa, Economics, Faculty of Law, Economics, Management and Sociology, University of Toliara, Madagascar;
- Dr Votsoma Philémon, Economics, Department of Monetary and Banking Economics, Faculty of Economics and Management, University of Garoua, Cameroon;
- Mr Makadji Etienne Aquilas, Psychology, PhD student at the University of Maroua, Cameroon;
- Mr Nzuzi Lukoki Christian, African Languages, School of Languages and Trades of Kinshasa, DRC;
- Mr Danioko Fagaye, Sociology, École Normale Supérieure de Bamako, Mali;
- Mr Boukété Grace, PhD student, Education, Hunan Normal University, China;
- Mr Qi Lindong, Literature, Beijing Shunyi No. 1 High School, Beijing, China;
- Mr Goumay Faustin, Literature, University of Maroua, Cameroon.
Bibliographical references
Aurégan, X. (2024). La course aux ports africains ? Contributions chinoises au développement portuaire africain. Flux, 135-136(1), 13-30. https://doi.org/10.3917/flux1.135.0013.
Aurégan, X. « La présence économique chinoise en Afrique, quelles réalités ? », Géoconfluences, avril 2025.
https://geoconfluences.ens-lyon.fr/informations-scientifiques/dossiers-regionaux/afrique-dynamiques-regionales/articles-scientifiques/presence-economique-chinoise-en-afrique
Aurégan X., Chine, puissance-Géopolitique des relations sino-africaines, Paris, Armand Colin, 2024
FOCAC, « La Chine, premier partenaire commercial de l’Afrique pour la 16è année consécutive) http://www.focac.org/fra/zfgx_5/jmhz/202505/t20250521_11629980.htm;
Géoconfluences, «Chinafrique», https://geoconfluences.ens-lyon.fr/glossaire/chinafrique
Iwazaki K., «China bashing», Outre-Terre, N°30, 2011/4, pp.171-172;
Mazet M., « Chine nouvelle et China Bashing. En panne sur le chemin de la puissance », Diploweb, 21 décembre 2012, https://www.diploweb.com/Chine-nouvelle-et-China-Bashing-En.html;
Mbabia O. et Wassouni F. (dir.), La présence chinoise en Afrique francophone, Paris, Monde Global Editions Nouvelles, 2016;
Wolff R., "The Fatal contradictions of China bashing", https://socialistchina.org/2023/07/14/richard-d-wolff-the-fatal-contradictions-of-china-bashing/
[1] It would be tedious to list all the publications, networks and research centres, as well as related projects, here, since this is only a call for contributions, which does not necessarily require these details, which interested researchers will cover in their article proposals.
