Charm of the Dragon: exploring China’s relationship with Africa and its implications for resource security, soft power and development
Year: 2011
Type: article
Abstract: This paper explores the relationship between China and Africa within the context of China's resource security endeavours.It focuses on Chinese investment and soft power in Africa, and how they connect with African development.Is China in Africa to build mutually-beneficial relationships or to extract resources?Connected to this, are China's soft power initiatives contributing to African development, or are they merely incentives for African states to do business with China?By examining Chinese soft power, the motivations and actions of both Chinese and African players, the author concludes that Africa is benefiting from Chinese investment, though to what extent varies based on the country.Conversely, the author finds little evidence that China's soft power initiatives are supporting country development.Finally, the Sudan and Zambia case studies illustrate how Africans are far from passive actors, as external and internal pressures are slowly changing how China does business in Africa.
Source: Summit (Simon Fraser University)
Author: Ryan Luke William Kitching
Language: English
Subfield: Development
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W153934501