An examination of Mugabe’s look east policy, 2003-2017 : an AfroCentric perspective

Abstract

Zimbabwe-China relations have elicited attention from the media, academics, and scholarly literature. Since the introduction of Zimbabwe’s unwritten Look East Policy in 2003 and its implementation until the ousting of Mugabe in 2017, the two countries deepened relations in various sectors with the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, serving as a platform, thus it continues to shape the two countries' relationship on a broader level. Mugabe-led Zimbabwe sought refuge in the Asian giant, in the face of a Western economic and political onslaught, which culminated in economic woes for the Southern African country. The literature in this area has focused primarily on the benefits and challenges that ensued from the introduction of this Policy. Considering that the individual decision-maker has been neglected by studies concerning the Policy, this exploratory qualitative research examines the role played by Mugabe in the formulation and implementation of Zimbabwe’s unwritten Look East Policy. Guided by the underutilised Behaviourist approach in foreign policy analysis, the study draws data from both primary and secondary sources to show the role played byMugabe in Zimbabwe’s foreign policy.