What Do We See When Looking at China’s Engagements in Africa? An Analysis of Mainstream Academic Perspectives

Bibliographic Data

ID12422924
AuthorsJin Ding (0000-0003-3138-1064, Yangzhou University), Ding Jin (0000-0003-1790-3639, Yangzhou University, corresponding author), Christoph Ratz (0000-0002-4863-7452, University of Basel), M M Bergman (0000-0002-4059-5833, University of Basel)
Year2021
Volume31
Issue135
Pages398-411
Publication date2021-08-21
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueJournal of Contemporary China (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1067-0564 • E-ISSN: 1469-9400
PublisherRoutledge (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/10670564.2021.1966898
OpenAlexW3195281082
LanguageEN
Citations received3

Since China initiated the Go Out (走出去战略) policy in 1999, its increasing presence and influence in Africa have led to controversial debates among scholars. This article systematizes the different perspectives on the relationship between Africa and China in the contemporary academic literature, and how these debates differ from representations of Africa’s relations with Western actors. Based on Content Configuration Analysis, the results indicate that China in Africa is constructed in relation to Africa and the West. Academic papers tend to impose a Western perspective on China’s involvement with Africa, most notably marked by neo-colonialism and development cooperation. This research highlights the shortcomings, limitations, and risks of this Eurocentric approach, and outlines alternatives to better understand China’s engagement in and with Africa

China · Colonialism · Mainstream · Perspective (graphical · Political science · Relation (database · Social science · Sociology · African cultural and philosophical studies · Economic Growth and Development · Gender Studies · International Development and Aid · Law

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