Description
Global expressions of negativity towards the People’s Republic of China and its economic presence have received extensive empirical coverage but little substantive theoretical attention in international studies. In this paper, we start developing a theoretical framework and typology for global anti-China/anti-Chinese sentiment and activity around the world with the aim of defining Sinophobia and examining its conceptual and empirical overlaps with and distinctions from anti-Americanism. We explore the plausibility of our theoretical framework by analysing the evolving response to China’s rise, influence, and presence over the last decade in two case studies: Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan. The data we draw upon comes from existing events/protests datasets, including ACLAD and the Oxus Society for Central Asian Affairs, and the Central Asia Barometer, which we develop and complement with new data: an original dataset of anti-China policy and semi-structured interviews with local stakeholders including experts, state and local officials and civil society leaders conducted during fieldwork. Our analysis of Sinophobia, aims to allow us to distinguish between the political, societal, and policy causes and implications of different forms of anti-China and anti-Chinese sentiment and activity in the two countries, to be tested on other case studies in Global Majority countries.
