The third China-Africa Cooperation Forum held in Beijing between the 3rd and 5th November 2006 revealed the growing influence that China is becoming in Africa since a few years. This summit was announced by Chinese officials as being the most important diplomatic event ever organized in the country since 1949. The size of the African participation -48 African countries took part- was telling: Africa’s leaders recognise that China is a now a hugely important economic and political player on their continent.
Actually, China has had a long involvement with Africa, going back to the early days of independence movements in the 1960s and before. But the current level and intent of China’s involvement is different. In those earlier days, China’s engagement with Africa was politically driven: personnel, technical assistance and weapons were sent to the continent to support newly independent countries and liberation movements. Besides, during the cold war, African leaders perceived China as a leading nation of the Third World, and Maoism was sometimes used as ideological reference, while China had geopolitical interests in the continent, namely to counter its biggest ideological rival, the Soviet Union, in countries such as Angola and Congo. But in the 1980s, China’s influence and involvement in the African continent waned. China was unable to compete with western aid programs, and Africa had lost its strategic importance for Chinese officials.
However, this situation dramatically changed in the last decade. China's policy towards Africa during this period has its roots in the crisis surrounding the Tiananmen massacre and the persistent Western criticism of China’s human rights record. These events indeed provided the initial trigger which compelled the Chinese government to seek closer ties to non-Western countries, and especially with Africa. In addition, the emergence of the international hegemony of the United States in the post-1989 period led China to steer a more active foreign policy. As a consequence, Chinese officials advanced the concept of multipolarity, and reached out to non-Western states to bolster China’s international position vis-à-vis the United States and particularly its room for manoeuvre within the United Nations and other international bodies.
Furthermore, since China’s economic boom and its growing thirst for raw materials, the commercial perspectives represented by the African continent and its potential in energetic resources are also in the heart of the new Chinese strategy in Africa.
However, China’s growing influence in Africa has raised a range of interrogations about its objectives and methods. A crucial question I will try to answer is whether China’s growing involvement in Africa is a positive or a negative shift for the region. Will it help or hinder the development prospects of the continent? To answer that question, I will first review the scale of China’s political and economic involvement in Africa and examine the objectives and strategies underlying Chinese foreign policy towards Africa. Then I will look at the impact that China’s engagement has or may have in a near future on African countries by considering its economic and political repercussions.
Table of Contents
- Introduction
- I/ A growing influence on the African continent.
- A/ The different aspects of Chinese engagement in Africa.
- 1) A very active diplomacy towards Africa and a political approach appealing to most African countries.
- 2) A generous partner.
- 3) A growing cultural influence on the African continent.
- 4) Skyrocketing trade relations.
- B/ China's interests in Africa.
- 1) A diplomatic backup from African countries.
- 2) Significant economic and commercial interests.
- 3) A privileged access to energy and natural resources.
- II/ The consequences of China's engagement in Africa.
- A/ An ambivalent economic impact.
- 1) Perspectives of economic growth and a better integration in the world trade.
- 2) But limited perspectives of development on the long run.
- B/China's political impact on Africa: mainly negative consequences.
- 1) A very limited positive shift: China's increasing engagement in UN peacekeeping operations in African states.
- 2) The negative political consequences of China's engagement on African governance.
Objectives and Key Themes
The main objective of this paper is to analyze the growing influence of China in Africa, examining whether this influence is ultimately beneficial or detrimental to the continent's development prospects. The paper investigates the scale of China's political and economic involvement, explores the underlying objectives and strategies of Chinese foreign policy towards Africa, and assesses the economic and political repercussions of this engagement.
- The multifaceted nature of China's engagement in Africa (diplomatic, economic, cultural).
- China's strategic interests in Africa (access to resources, diplomatic support, economic opportunities).
- The economic impact of China's engagement, including both positive growth aspects and potential long-term limitations.
- The political consequences of China's involvement, encompassing both positive and negative impacts on African governance.
- Comparison of China's approach to Africa with that of Western nations.
Chapter Summaries
Introduction: This introduction lays the groundwork for the paper by highlighting the significantly increased Chinese influence in Africa, as evidenced by the 2006 China-Africa Cooperation Forum. It traces China's historical involvement in Africa, contrasting its earlier politically-driven support during the Cold War with the current, more economically focused engagement. The introduction emphasizes the shift in China's strategy, driven partly by the Tiananmen Square incident and a desire to counter Western influence, leading to a more proactive foreign policy focused on multipolarity and securing access to African resources.
I/ A growing influence on the African continent: This section details the various ways China exerts its influence in Africa. It highlights China's active diplomatic engagement, including numerous high-level visits and the maintenance of embassies across the continent, a contrast to the reduced Western presence. The section underscores China's strategic use of its "South-South cooperation" rhetoric and its role in the UN Security Council to foster a common identity with African nations and portray itself as a champion of developing countries. Furthermore, it analyzes how China's non-interference policy and lack of stringent conditions attached to its aid make it an appealing alternative to Western practices and institutions like the IMF.
II/ The consequences of China's engagement in Africa: This section delves into the impact of China's involvement on Africa, presenting a nuanced perspective. While acknowledging potential economic growth and improved integration into world trade, it also notes limitations regarding long-term development. The analysis critically assesses the political consequences, highlighting the predominantly negative impacts on African governance while acknowledging a small positive contribution through increased participation in UN peacekeeping operations. The overall implication is that China's influence is a complex phenomenon with both beneficial and detrimental implications for the African continent.
Keywords
China, Africa, foreign policy, economic development, political influence, South-South cooperation, resource extraction, UN Security Council, neo-colonialism, development models, governance.
Frequently Asked Questions: Analysis of China's Growing Influence in Africa
What is the main objective of this paper?
The main objective is to analyze China's growing influence in Africa, determining whether this influence is ultimately beneficial or detrimental to the continent's development. It investigates the scale of China's political and economic involvement, explores the objectives and strategies of Chinese foreign policy towards Africa, and assesses the economic and political repercussions.
What are the key themes explored in this paper?
Key themes include the multifaceted nature of China's engagement in Africa (diplomatic, economic, cultural), China's strategic interests (resource access, diplomatic support, economic opportunities), the economic impact (positive growth and long-term limitations), the political consequences (positive and negative impacts on African governance), and a comparison of China's approach with that of Western nations.
How does the paper structure its analysis of China's influence?
The paper is structured into two main sections: Part I examines the growing influence of China on the African continent, detailing its diplomatic efforts, economic engagement, and cultural impact. Part II analyzes the consequences of this engagement, considering both the economic and political repercussions, presenting a nuanced perspective encompassing both positive and negative aspects.
What are the different aspects of China's engagement in Africa discussed in the paper?
The paper covers China's active diplomacy, generous financial partnerships, growing cultural influence, rapidly increasing trade relations, its strategic interests (diplomatic backup, economic and commercial interests, access to resources), and the overall impact on African governance and economic development.
What is the economic impact of China's engagement in Africa according to the paper?
The paper presents an ambivalent view of the economic impact. While acknowledging perspectives of economic growth and better integration into world trade, it also highlights limitations regarding long-term development, suggesting a mixed bag of short-term gains and potential long-term challenges.
What is the political impact of China's engagement in Africa according to the paper?
The paper primarily highlights the negative political consequences of China's engagement on African governance. However, it also acknowledges a small positive contribution through increased participation in UN peacekeeping operations. The overall impact is seen as complex and multifaceted.
What are some of the key words associated with this analysis?
Key words include China, Africa, foreign policy, economic development, political influence, South-South cooperation, resource extraction, UN Security Council, neo-colonialism, development models, and governance.
How does the paper describe China's historical involvement in Africa?
The paper contrasts China's earlier politically-driven support during the Cold War with its current, more economically-focused engagement. It emphasizes a shift in China's strategy, driven partly by the Tiananmen Square incident and a desire to counter Western influence, resulting in a more proactive foreign policy focused on multipolarity and securing access to African resources.
What is the significance of the 2006 China-Africa Cooperation Forum?
The 2006 China-Africa Cooperation Forum is highlighted as evidence of the significantly increased Chinese influence in Africa, marking a turning point in the relationship.
How does China's approach to Africa compare to that of Western nations?
The paper implicitly contrasts China's non-interference policy and lack of stringent conditions attached to its aid with the practices of Western nations and institutions like the IMF, presenting China's approach as a more appealing alternative to some African countries.
- Arbeit zitieren
- Adeline Defer (Autor:in), 2007, China's influence in Africa, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/78168
