Emerald Management Review:
China in Africa: imbalance of power

Abstract:

Purpose - To describe the determined takeover of African resources by China, and the resulting risks of growing money laundering, environmental pollution, deforestation, and political repression in the countries involved.

Design/methodology/approach - Outlines the vast scope of Chinese activity in sub-Saharan Africa, focusing on Mozambique, Zambia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Equatorial Guinea.

Findings - One in five people are Chinese, and an increasing number of them are seeking consumer 'wellbeing' on Western lines. The country is industrializing without colonies, so it relies on making long-term supply contracts with resource-rich countries - possibly preventing them developing their own light industries by swamping them with cheap Chinese goods. Africa south of the Sahara is the prime target, and the Chinese have engaged in a huge variety of projects - mainly linked to accessing raw materials - in many African countries; there is little attention paid to environmental impact or good governance in the countries concerned. In contrast, the USA has lost influence and appears to many Africans to be hypocritical and dormant, being interested only in oil and not in African development. Instead, Chinese investment money flows into corrupt and repressive regimes, thus bolstering both them and the one-party Chinese political system.

Practical implications - There is no reason to believe that increased Chinese prosperity will lead to greater democracy, and the West appears essentially to be acquiescing in the Chinese scramble for resources.

Originality/value - Argues that while optimists continue to think that human ingenuity always solves problems, resources are finite and the commodity boom shows no sign of ending - largely because of Chinese demand.

Keywords:

Article Type:

General review

Reference:

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