Exploitation dressed in a suit, shining shoes, and carrying a suitcase full of dollars: What does China want in Africa?
About: This article is published in Journal of Public Affairs.The article was published on 2019-02-01. It has received 21 citations till now.
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11 May 2019
TL;DR: In this paper, the Paris club granted a number of African countries, including Nigeria, debt relief, which elicited widespread celebration in the capital cities of affected countries, where it was portrayed as a veritable launch-pad to Africa's development.
Abstract: In recent years, the Paris club granted a number of African countries, including Nigeria, debt relief. This elicited widespread celebration in the capital cities of affected countries, where it was portrayed as a veritable launch-pad to Africa's development. This paper takes a critical look at the debt relief, with emphasis on its problems and prospects for Africa's development. It is argued that while debt relief does offer some prospects for development, there is little or no evidence to suggest that such an outcome is automatic. The conditions that precipitated the debt crisis in the first instance, including an inequitable international economic order and political conditions tied to aid, are still very present in the debt relief regime. Corruption of the foreign aid regime by both internal and external actors has been compounded by the recent global economic crisis, posing further constraints on the effectiveness of foreign aid in Africa. If debt relief must yield the desired result, it has to be accompanied by a sustainable campaign to fundamentally reform the world order to make it more equitable, together with a drive for good governance that is not only democratic, but also efficient and development-oriented in Africa.
25 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the impact of China's aid, trade and investments on the development trajectories in postcolonial Africa, focussed on Rwanda, is investigated, and the analytical framework of this study is presented.
Abstract: This paper aims to investigate the impact of China’s aid, trade and investments on the development trajectories in postcolonial Africa, focussed on Rwanda. The analytical framework of this study is...
16 citations
TL;DR: Wang et al. as mentioned in this paper argued that China is using its clout to weaken the international human rights regime while simultaneously emp... and claimed that China's rise was met with concern by human rights scholars and activists.
Abstract: China’s rise has been met with concern by human rights scholars and activists. Critics contend that China is using its clout to weaken the international human rights regime while simultaneously emp...
11 citations
Cites background from "Exploitation dressed in a suit, shi..."
...Other scholars agree that growing engagement between developing countries and China has weakened Western influence in the developing world and hindered Western efforts to promote human rights (Mlambo, 2018; Regilme & Hartmann, 2018; Woods, 2008)....
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...…2011; Simmons, 2009), my findings suggest that illiberal emerging powers like China are reducing transnational pressures by taking a no-strings approach to trade (Mlambo, 2018) and by undertaking efforts to weaken the international human rights regime (Flores-Mac ıas & Kreps, 2013; Piccone, 2018a)....
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...…(Regilme & Hartmann, 2018).7 China’s no-strings-attached approach to aid and trade makes it an attractive partner to developing countries with poor human rights records – certainly relative to Western countries that tie economic partnership to democracy and human rights (Mlambo, 2018)....
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...China’s no-strings-attached approach to aid and trade makes it an attractive partner to developing countries with poor human rights records – certainly relative to Western countries that tie economic partnership to democracy and human rights (Mlambo, 2018)....
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...Whereas earlier work had suggested that transnational forces pressure developing countries to improve human rights protections (Hafner-Burton, 2011; Simmons, 2009), my findings suggest that illiberal emerging powers like China are reducing transnational pressures by taking a no-strings approach to trade (Mlambo, 2018) and by undertaking efforts to weaken the international human rights regime (Flores-Mac ıas & Kreps, 2013; Piccone, 2018a)....
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TL;DR: Most African countries today are pursuing one or both of the following policy agendas as they strive towards a sustainable transition: (1) a global normative agenda moving away from traditional patt...
Abstract: Most African countries today are pursuing one or both of the following policy agendas as they strive towards a sustainable transition: 1) a global normative agenda moving away from traditional patt...
8 citations
Cites background from "Exploitation dressed in a suit, shi..."
...These loans are largely classified as non-official development aid such as export credits, suppliers’ credits, commercial, and not concessional, among others.11 As a result, around 15 per cent of sub-Saharan Africa’s total debt is to the Chinese government (Mlambo, 2019)....
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TL;DR: In this paper , the authors argue that the African Development Bank (AfDB) can be a significant promoter of African development given its unique characteristics, focus areas, and lending style that are different from other multilateral institutions.
Abstract: Promoting development in Africa has faced significant challenges partly because of the continent’s peripheral access to global markets as well as its internal geographical limitations on the movement of people, goods, and services. However, the African Development Bank (AfDB) and its “developmental” role has emerged as a practical and tailored approach to Pan-African development, especially in the midst of a growing crisis in global multilateralism. This article argues that the AfDB can be a significant promoter of African development given its unique characteristics, focus areas, and lending style that are different from other multilateral institutions. Using a case-study approach, and by analysing literature on the AfDB, policy papers, and government reports, this study explores the developmental role of the bank and demonstrates its comparative advantage to other multilateral institutions in Africa.
3 citations
References
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01 Jan 2007
TL;DR: For instance, the authors argues that Chinese-African cooperation remains constrained by the asymmetric nature of relations and Africa's changing attitude towards issues such as humanitarian intervention, however, despite China's growing presence in Africa and its professed willingness to ignore political conditionalities.
Abstract: China's growing presence in Africa introduces a new dynamic in the continent's relations with the outside world. Motivated by vital resources and new markets to fuel its economy, coupled to a commitment to multilateralism, Beijing has embarked on a comprehensive trade and diplomatic offensive that is challenging Western pre-eminence in the region. African governments have responded enthusiastically to this new source of investment and aid as well as China's professed willingness to ignore political conditionalities. Chinese–African cooperation, however, remains constrained by the asymmetric nature of relations and Africa's changing attitude towards issues such as humanitarian intervention.
566 citations
TL;DR: The authors examines several factors that make China's links with Africa distinctive, including China's aid and migration policies, the distinctive "Chinese model" of foreign investment and infrastructure loans, and the development model known as the "Beijing Consensus."
Abstract: China's expanded links to Africa have created a discourse of how to characterize those ties. Western political forces and media have criticized every aspect of China's activities in Africa, while Chinese, with significant support from Africans, have mounted a spirited defense. This article examines several factors that make China's links with Africa distinctive, including China's aid and migration policies, the distinctive "Chinese model" of foreign investment and infrastructure loans, and the development model known as the "Beijing Consensus." It argues that particular aspects of China's links with Africa make the People's Republic of China (PRC) seem a lesser evil than the West in terms of support for Africa's development and respect for African nations.
200 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors explore the increasingly important economic and business relationship between the People's Republic of China and the countries of Africa and explore how this partnership manifests itself in investments, showing that Chinese investment has been motivated by a desire to access critical resources (oil, bauxite, etc.).
Abstract: The purpose of this paper is to explore the increasingly important economic and business relationship between the People’s Republic of China and the countries of Africa. Our focus is on how this partnership manifests itself in investments. The research questions are: first, how has the relationship changed over time and second, from an African perspective has this relationship been beneficial? Finally, how has the recent economic downturn affected their partnership? Our investigation shows that Chinese investment has been motivated by a desire to access critical resources (oil, bauxite, etc.). The Chinese approach was been to downplay political issues (e.g., human rights). Although recipient African nations have received investment inflows, they have come with certain drawbacks. For instance, they have negatively impacted local trade and commerce. Also, in some cases African labor has not benefited from Chinese investment.
95 citations
12 May 2011
TL;DR: In this article, the authors discuss China's Energy Challenges and Policy Priorities, China's Growing Presence in the International Oil and Gas Arena, and Driving Forces behind the Internationalization of China's Oil Industry.
Abstract: 1. Introduction: China, Oil and Global Politics Part 1: Energy Policy, the Government and China's Oil Industry 2. China's Energy Challenges and Policy Priorities 3. The Wider Context of China's Energy Policy 4. Inside China's Energy Policy 5. China's Growing Presence in the International Oil and Gas Arena 6. Driving Forces Behind the Internationalization of China's Oil Industry Part 2: Energy Policy and China's Foreign Policy 7. Integration, the West and International Energy Policy 8. The Revisionist Alternative: Energy and the Sino-Russian Axis 9. Hegemony, Oil and Asian Regional Politics 10. The Neo-Imperialist Temptation: Africa and Latin America
56 citations