Steven Kuo
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Email: stevecykuo@yahoo.com
Biography
Steven holds BA (Private Law), BA (hons) Philosophy, and MA (Philosophy) from the University of Cape Town.
He is currently teaching the Chinese Foreign Policy elective to graduate students of the Department of Political Studies, University of the Western Cape, South Africa.
In 2011, he was a visiting associate of the Centre for African Studies, University of Cape Town. In 2010 he was a visiting academic of the School of International Studies, Renmin (People's) University, Beijing and the Institute of African Studies, Zhejiang Normal University in Jinghua, Zhejiang Province.
Thesis Title
Am I My Brother's Keeper? An examination of the Chinese Model of Peacebuilding in Africa
Supervisor
Prof. Ian Taylor
Thesis Summary
Critics of the liberal peace point out that the imposition of liberal democratic structures of governance through United Nations Peacekeeping Operations has not led to a sustainable peace being built. In reply, supporters of the liberal peace argue that even though the liberal peace is imperfect, there are no better alternatives. The objective of this thesis is to examine the Chinese peace and explore the possibility that it may be a potential alternative to the liberal peace. The thesis examines the Chinese understanding of the causes of insecurity in Africa, what the Chinese position is with regards to United Nations peacekeeping and peacebuilding missions in Africa; and what role China see itself playing vis-à-vis United Nations Peacekeeping Operations in Africa.
The Chinese peace recognises poverty alleviation as the foundation upon which sustainable peace can be built in post-conflict countries. Beijing does not believe the external imposition of a political ruling superstructure can succeed, and sees the liberal peace as neo-colonialism and liberal hubris. However, there is no set Chinese model of peacebuilding which can replace the liberal peace, or which African countries might follow. This is because the Chinese developmental model respects the local context, is based on pragmatism, and relies on trial and error to find the way forward.
The Chinese have been keeping a low profile in the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) and have focused on providing transportation and logistical support to UNMIL. The Chinese focus on infrastructure rehabilitation is appreciated by Liberians and is making a positive contribution to the life of ordinary people. On the deep societal divide that lies at the heart of the Liberian civil war and continues to cause instability, both the Chinese peace and the liberal peace remain silent.
Research Interests
My research interests lie in China-Africa ties, African security, the liberal peace, China's Africa security and peacebuilding policy, BRICS and South-South relations. My research is intended to contribute to the debate on African security and peacebuilding and what role a rising China can play in this.
Edited Books
Book Chapter
forthcoming in Chinese Steven C. Y. Kuo "How is China Perceived by Liberians? A case study of the efficacy of Chinese soft-power projection in Africa" in Duan Yong Wang (2012) Chinese Overseas Interests Yearbook, (Shanghai International Studies University Press)
Articles
"Understanding China's academic woes: China's position as a superpower may be hampered by the patromony and poor academic ethics of its universities", Guardian.co.uk, 21 August 2010. http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2010/aug/21/understanding-chinas-academic-woes
Refereed Articles
Steven C. Kuo (2012) "Beijing's Understanding of African Security: Context and Limitations", African Security 5, 1. 24-43. http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/19392206.2012.653306
Editor
postamble: A multi-disciplinary Journal of African Studies vol. 7. no.1, July 2011. http://postamble.org/?p=1
Reviewer
Studia Orientalia: Edited by the Finnish Oriental Society - since July, 2011.
Social Dynamics: Journal of the Center for African Studies, University of Cape Town - since March, 2012
Papers
May 2012
- "Enter the Dragon: Chinese peacebuilding in Africa". Talk presented at the Archbiship Desmond Tutu Center for War and Peace Studies, Liverpool Hope University, Liverpool, England.
October 2011
- "Great Power or Third World Ally? An Assessment of China-South Africa Relations". Paper presented at the Political Studies Department, University of The Western Cape, South Africa.
June 2011
- "Building sustainable peace: BRICS-Africa Cooperation in the United Nations Security Council", paper presented at the workshop BRICS/IBSA-Africa Relations: Turning threats to opportunity held at the Nordic Africa Institute, Uppsala, Sweden.
May 2011
- "'Die Geel Gevaar' and 'Quantianhou pengyou' : Contesting Discourses on China's Current Emergence in Africa", paper presented at the Centre for African Studies, University of Cape Town, South Africa.
April 2011
- “The Mind of China: An assessment of the relative importance of South Africa for China’s Global Strategy”, paper presented at the Graduate School of Business, University of Cape Town, South Africa.
March 2011
- “Am I my Brother’s Keeper? The Chinese position on interventionism and its engagements in Liberia”, presented at Department of Political and International Studies, Rhodes University, Eastern Cape, South Africa.
December 2009
- “Journey without Maps: Fieldwork to Liberia to Examine the Process of Creating a new (post-communist?) Chinese Identity in an Existing Context of Africa-West Relations”, paper presented at School of International Relations PhD Students’ Seminar, University of St. Andrews, Scotland.
Conferences
April 2012
- "Am I My Brother's Keeper? Chinese model of peacebuiling in Africa". Paper presented at the conference China in Africa, Dragon in Norway’s Backyard? held at the Oslo House of Literature and hosted by the Nobel Institute, Oslo, Norway.
June 2011
- "The People's Republic of China's Position on Security in Africa: Motivations and Limitations", presented at the 4th European Conference on African Studies, Uppsala, Sweden.
November 2010
- Chinese and Western Models of Development aid in Africa: What do Liberians Think?" Presented at ‘After the G20 Toronto Summit: Canada, China and the Global Governance’, held at School of International and Diplomatic Affairs, Shanghai International Studies University, Shanghai, China.
July, 2010
- "中國是負責任的大國嗎？ 利比里亞的觀點" [Zongguo shi fuzeren de daguo ma? Libiliya de guandian] (Is China a Responsible Great Power? A Perspective from Liberia） presented in Mandarin at the Chinese Community of Political Studies and International Studies 2010 Conference, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China.
June, 2010
- “Peaceful Rise?” Chinese Discourse on African Security, presented at 2010 workshop on African Security Issues, Institute of African Studies, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinghua, China
April, 2010
- ‘”Peaceful Development”? Chinese Peacekeeping and Peacebuilding in Liberia’ presented at China Postgraduate Conference UK 2010 Annual Conference, Oxford University, Oxford, UK.
April, 2009
- “Peace for Africa: A Chinese Perspective?” presented at Broad Horizons, Wide Boundaries: Inter-disciplinarity and the Study of Peace & Conflict Conference, University St. Andrews. Scotland. UK.
June, 2008
- “Am I My Brother’s Keeper? China’s Participation in UN Peacekeeping Operations in Africa” presented at Scottish Chinese Social Science Postgraduate Workshop, University of Glasgow, Scotland, UK.
Conference Organisation
May 2010
arranged public debate: "Aid to Africa: is it Necessary?" at the University of St. Andrews
The debate was co-hosted by student societies: 'Model UN', 'STAND against Genocide' and 'Foreign Policy Society'. The moderator was Rector Kevin Dunion and debators were African and British IR PhD students.
Grants
2007-2010
- Prestigious and Equity Scholarship for Overseas Doctoral Studies, National Research Foundation (South Africa) (US$ 36 000)
- Allen and Nesta Ferguson Charitable Trust Scholarship for Sub-Saharan Africa Peace Studies (UK) (University fees £9 900, stipend £ 18 000, fieldwork £ 2 500)
2010
- School of International Relations, Fieldwork Grant (£400)
2011
- Oppenheimer Memorial Trust Grant (South Africa) (ZAR 40 000)
Teaching
Department of Political Studies, University of the Western Cape (2012)
lecturer
- POL 730 - Chinese Foreign Policy
School of International Relations, University of St. Andrews (2008-2009)
tutor
- IR1005 - Introduction to International Relation
- IR1006 - Comparative Politics and Foreign Policy Analysis
Cape Town Diocesan Seminary (2005-2006)
lecturer
- Introduction to Philosophy
- Contemporary Philosophy
School of Economics, University of Cape Town (2000)
tutor
- Introduction to Political Economy
Department of Philosophy, University of Cape Town (2000-2002)
tutor
- Introduction to Philosophy
- Philosophy of Art and Literature
