China in Africa: Friend or Foe?
Will Thomas
Western media, scholars and policy makers have been quick to denounce the recent boom of Chinese investment in Africa as imperialistically minded, exploitative and unjust neo-colonialism. Despite the fact that the Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao insists Âthe cap of neo-colonialism could never adorn the head of China 1 ,Ê the West remains insistent that ChinaÊs supposed economic and political domination of the continent is the beginnings of a new age of African hegemony reminiscent of the original Scramble for Africa in the 19 th century: a colonizing mission underpinned by exploitation and abuse that will ensure that the continent will never break into the increasingly competitive global economy. To some, China in Africa embodies the essence of neo-colonialism: the state that is subject to the colonizer is, in theory, independent and has all the outward trappings of international sovereignty whereas in reality its economic system and thus its political policy is directed from outside. However, in recent times there has been a backlash by contemporary eastern economists and geographers such as Paul Zeleza who, instead of blaming China for AfricaÊs inability to break out into the modern world economy, credit them as being the driving force behind AfricaÊs increasing development and the looming boom in its economy 2 .Already, seven African nations are part of the top ten fastest developing nations in the world. Indeed, despite being potentially harmful to AfricaÊs quest for democracy, human and political rights for all its peoples, ChinaÊs Âno strings attachedÊ almost neoliberal form of hard-hitting investment is bolstering the continent with the necessary infrastructure and investment
it needs to kick-start its embryonic economy. In an attempt to rid China of the badge of ÂNeo-colonialismÊ I will analyse the true intentions, effects and future of Sino-African relations and show how Africa can truly benefit from this boom in commerce whilst also trying to understand why the west has been so quick to stigmatize China as an exploitative power. Sino-African trade, whilst negligible in 2000, hit $198.5 billion in 2012. Although many elements of China and AfricaÊs affair have been dusted with debate and controversy, it goes without question that the size and scale of economic activity between the two nations is vast, with the potential for monumental benefits for both parties. The question here is whether or not these potential benefits can actually materialize: African nations may be in danger of becoming what Robert Jackson coined economic ÂQuasi-states:Ê Âthird world states seen as confined to a peripheral condition of neo-colonial dependency by a western dominated capitalist world economy that leaves them with very limited freedom to develop their own.Ê 3 Western media has been plagued with complaints about China exploitatively draining Africa of valuable resources in return for cheap imports that squeeze local businesses out of production and destroy homebred entrepreneurialism. Similarly, with some of the key economic and political decisions regarding the future of Africa already being decided in Beijing, many believe there is a danger of African political rulers becoming nothing more than cannon fodder for ChinaÊs political elite: the African Development Bank has already held important annual meetings regarding the
1 Feng, C. 2006. China, Egypt sign outline for deepening strategic ties 2 Zeleza, P. 2008. The Global South
3 Jackson, R. 1990. Quasi-states: Sovereignty, International Relations and the Third World .
Made with FlippingBook - Online Brochure Maker