TY - JOUR
AU1 - Oshodi, Abdul-Gafar Tobi
AB - Africa–China relations have attracted significant scholarships in the last 20 years, and Daniel Large has immensely contributed to this expanding body of knowledge. In his latest book, China and Africa: The new era, he offers readers an in-depth discussion of what he conceptualizes as the ‘new era’ in Africa–China relations, essentially manifested in the emergence, policies, and politics of Xi Jinping towards Africa, and the global context within which it all these happen. Apart from its introduction and conclusion, the book is divided into six chapters. Chapter 1 is a historical, political, and institutional overview of the changing Africa–China relations. While the second chapter locates Africa–China relations within a broader international political economy, Chapter 3 discusses Chinese trade, aid, and investment in Africa while also highlighting the so-called ‘structural transformation’ in terms of infrastructure development, manufacturing, the Belt and Road Initiative, and the emerging debt issue in Africa–China relations. Chapter 4 interrogates the extent to which the China model is gaining ground in Africa and how African actors have responded. Chapter 5 discusses the ordinary exchanges between Africans and Chinese living in Africa and China. The final chapter articulates the security pillar of the new era as located in themes like ‘peace through development, investment protection, non-interference, China’s approach to and role in intervention in African countries, and African activism and adaptation’ (p. 192). The book has two main strengths. First, it arguably offers the most up-to-date documentary and discussion of Africa–China relations in the Xi era, what is referred to as the ‘new era’. As it declared in its introduction: ‘This book aims to bring the China-Africa story up to date’ (p. 2). The author, however, does not construct the new era as a disconnected phase, but one that in itself is an offshoot of historical Africa–China relations, an era of Africa–China relations that simultaneously ‘follows but depart from deeper historical connections’ (p. 18). A central theme of his analysis of the new era is the shift towards the political as against economic relations—although the shift, like the era it seeks to explain, in itself is neither simplistic nor holistic. For the author, therefore, ‘China-Africa relations have never been just about politics or economics but shifting combinations of both across different historical periods’ (p. 2) but that the ‘politics defines China’s New Era Africa relations most’ (p. 2, italics used for emphasis). This position is not surprising. Xi is a strong and ambitious Chinese leader, one that has been compared to yet another strong leader, Mao Zedong, in the history of China. The second strength of the book is its holistic discussion of Africa–China relations. Perhaps, its strongest point is that the book goes beyond examining the activities of the Chinese state or private citizens ‘within’ Africa and/or how African states and non–state actors respond alone. It also offers useful insights into the changing local Chinese and global context within which Chinese relations with Africa(ns) are performed and emerging in the new era. For instance, in Chapter 2 of the book, sections such as ‘Africa in China’s foreign policy and global politics’ (pp. 47–58), ‘China in African foreign policies and global affairs’ (pp. 58–64), and ‘China, Africa and other external powers’ (pp. 64–75) provide a rich examination of Africa–China relations within a broader global political economy. By offering this dimension, the book contributes to addressing an important vacuum in contemporary discourse of Africa–China relations. Suffice to stress that although a few works have discussed the three dimensions of Africa–China relations (i.e. as it relates to events within Africa, China, and the global context), Large’s attempt to harmonize the trio is unique and offers a robust explanation of a complex relationship in the new era. In conclusion, Large’s book touches on an important phase in Africa–China relations—the ongoing Xi era. Yet, it accentuates the broader question of how best to discuss complex and multidimensional entities (like Africa and China) without falling into the trap of oversimplification acknowledged in the introduction of the book (pp. 9–10). Although it acknowledges the complexities of studying Africa and China, Large’s book does not present itself as different from many others. As he puts it: ‘Many books warn against generalizations and then generalize; this book is no different but does not go beyond the ways in which Africa is, in its terms, part of China’s foreign policy’ (p. 10). Thus, the need for more country-specific books on China in Africa is, once again, underscored. Nonetheless, this book is strongly recommended for those interested in understanding the evolution of Africa–China relations and how China, under the leadership of Xi, is advancing, changing, and navigating the turf. © The Author(s) 2022. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Royal African Society. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com This article is published and distributed under the terms of the Oxford University Press, Standard Journals Publication Model (https://academic.oup.com/pages/standard-publication-reuse-rights)
TI - China and Africa: The new era
JF - African Affairs
DO - 10.1093/afraf/adac040
DA - 2022-12-16
UR - https://www.deepdyve.com/lp/oxford-university-press/china-and-africa-the-new-era-UxwU51IGOz
SP - 183
EP - 184
VL - 122
IS - 486
DP - DeepDyve
ER -