1st Edition
Chinese Investment in Africa How African Countries Can Position Themselves to Benefit from China’s Foray into Africa
China leads the world when it comes to investment and influence on the African continent. The extent of Chinese investment in Africa is well known and much has been written about China’s foray into Africa. However, most of the available material has approached this issue by looking at China as the ’New Colonialist’ – more interested in Africa’s vast natural resources than working in partnership for sustained development. Whilst China’s interest in Africa’s resources is evident, it is just half of the story.
China’s foray into Africa goes beyond its appetite for natural resources and into the realm of geo-politics and international political economics. For example, China is all too aware of how it can cultivate Africa’s support on global issues at the United Nations and at other international fora. Breaking free from the binary arguments and analysis which characterize this topic, Professor Abdulai presents a refreshing perspective that China’s foray into Africa can produce win–win outcomes for China and Africa – if Africans really know what they want from China.
Hitherto, each African country has tended to engage China with an individual bucket list; acting in isolation and not as part of a wider continent (indeed Africa and the African Union does not yet have a coordinated policy towards China). For Africa to be able to do that it needs to know where China is coming from, the factors that contributed to its awakening and success, and the benefits and possible pitfalls of this foray, in order to better position itself for a win–win engagement with China.
This book will be a valuable read for policy makers, think-tanks and students of Africa-China studies programmes alike.
List of Figures
List of Tables
Preface
Acronyms and Abbreviations
Introduction
1 The Sleeping Giant has Awoken: China’s New Great Leap Forward
2 Some of the Factors that Contributed to China’s Awakening
3 China’s Entry into the World Trade Organisation (WTO)
4 Why is China Interested in Africa?
5 China’s Foray into Africa: The Benefits
6 China’s Foray into Africa: The Criticisms
7 Africa and Millions of Chinese Migrants
8 How African Countries Can Position Themselves to Benefit from China’s Foray into Africa
9 China’s Foray into Africa: Impact on Interests of External Players?
10 China and Africa: The Way Forward and Prospects for the Future
Conclusion: China and Africa: Looking Backward to Move Forward
Bibliography
Internet Resources
Index
Biography
David N. Abdulai is an internationally renowned academic and author of numerous books. He is president and CEO of the African Graduate School of Management and Leadership in Ghana. His most recent book is titled African-Centred Management Education: A New Paradigm for an Emerging Continent.
