The Political Economy of Chinese FDI and Spillover Effects in Africa. KopińskiD, CarmodyP and TaylorI (eds) . International Political Economy Series. Springer Nature, Cham, Switzerland, 2023, pp. xiii + 272. ISBN 978‐3‐031‐38717‐3 (pbk).
Year: 2024
Type: book-review
Abstract: Recent decades have witnessed significant growth in the field of China-Africa/ Africa-China studies, reflecting a broader shift of intellectual and analytical focus from North-South to South-South relations.This vibrant field explores dynamic linkages and transnational flows within the Global South, drawing from international relations, political science, sociology, geography, anthropology, among others.The intense focus on China-Africa relations however risks reinforcing the notion of 'China exceptionalism', which limits a broader comparative understanding of foreign activities in Africa.In response, a growing body of literature has employed a comparative approach to explore the varieties of capital across different African contexts, which sheds light on both the universal and unique characteristics of Chinese investment in Africa.In addition, earlier research, often criticized for a bias towards China's perspective that depicted African countries as passive recipients of aid, loan and investment, has moved towards a greater attention to African agency from elite negotiations to grassroots initiatives.These studies interrogate the simplistic hemispheric view or the mere celebration of South-South solidarity, instead exploring diverse political economies, socio-cultural forces, and individual aspirations that shape the real-world dynamics of China-Africa/Africa-China encounters.The Political Economy of Chinese FDI and Spillover Effects in Africa has made important contributions to both of the above-mentioned developments in China-Africa/ Africa-China studies.While primarily focusing on Chinese FDI and its spillover effects in Africa, the book offers a comprehensive examination of the vast literature on FDI, the formation of economic linkages, and knowledge transfer that extend beyond its empirical or geographic scope.Through detailed empirical case studies of Angola and Zambia, the book explores the institutional, political-economic, and cultural dimensions of these countries, which influence the outcomes of their interactions with China.In doing so, it avoids an uncritical celebration of 'African agency' and instead carefully evaluates the institutional capacities and political determination necessary for exerting agency, identifying both the opportunities and challenges for spillover effects.Recent decades have seen burgeoning research on the impacts of Chinese FDI on African industrialization.However, as authors of the book contend, a comprehensive understanding of these impacts remains elusive for several reasons.Historically, as outlined in the introduction, there is a deep-seated skepticism toward foreign investment in Africa due to past problematic relationships with global capitalism.In the context of Chinese FDI, critical questions persist about whether FDI will foster knowledge transfer, under what conditions it might occur, and how such transfer could catalyze broader structural transformations across the continent.Conceptually, the debate continues over what precisely constitutes FDI and how to assess its spillover effects.Methodologically, research is often constrained by issues of data transparency, which limit the scope of quantitative analysis, while qualitative studies face challenges with generalizability.
DOI: 10.1111/sjtg.12570
Author: Ding Fei
Institution: Cornell University
Language: English
Subfield: Development
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: bronze
OpenAlex ID: W4403704462