Articles on China's Presence in Africa

 Good Governance Africa published in June 2023 an edition with a series of articles on China's presence in Africa titled "Sovereignty in an Emerging Multipolar World."

The articles are:

--Chinese Media in South Africa: An Overview by Barry Van Wyk.

--Resuscitating Indigenous Languages through Translanguaging Pedagogy within the Evolution and Dynamics of Teaching Mandarin in Nigeria and South Africa by Philip Ademola Olayoku.

--Chinese Companies' Corporate Social Responsibility in the Eyes of Local Communities in Kenya: A Public diplomacy Approach by Cliff Mboya.

--Chinese Vloggers' Representations of Sub-Saharan Africa on Douyin: An Exploratory Study by Isak Wang and Ann Wang.

--The China Factor in Africa's Pursuit of Digital Sovereignty by Mandira Bagwandeen.

Huawei Skill Transfer in Kenya and Nigeria

The Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies China Africa Research Initiative published in March 2020 a working paper titled "How Huawei Succeeds in Africa: Training and Knowledge Transfers in Kenya and Nigeria" by Henry Tugendhat.

The study compares Huawei's skill transfer efforts in Kenya and Nigeria. It argues that Huawei treads a fine line between training local engineers and keeping control of its intellectual property.

Comparing Chinese and Irish Mining Company Activities in Mozambique

The China Africa Research Initiative at Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies published in May 2019 a study titled "The Blind Spot: International Mining in Angoche and Larde, Mozambique" by Sergio Chichava, Shubo Li and Michael G. Sambo.

The problems encountered by the Chinese and Irish companies were similar and local communities expressed discontent with both. But the Irish company seems to have demonstrated more sophisticated strategies in overcoming the challenges to deliver social goods to local communities.

China, Africa, and Corporate Social Responsibility

The US Institute of Peace published in September 2017 a report titled "China's Soft Power in Africa or Real Corporate Accountability?" by Virginia Harper Ho.

It concludes that corporate social responsibility (CSR) practices are still maturing among Chinese firms operating in Africa and that many continue to think of CSR only in terms of charitable contributions or job creation.

China's Belt and Road Initiative: Business Implications for Africa

The Washington Post's Monkey Cage posted on 24 July 2017 an analysis titled "China's 'Belt and Road' Opens Up New Business in Africa--for Both the U.S. and China" by Janet Eom, research associate at the China-Africa Research Initiative at the Johns Hopkins University of Advanced International Studies.

The author concludes that China's economic needs, rather than any set political agenda, drive Beijing's Belt and Road Initiative. She also suggests the initiative opens up new business in Africa for both China and the United States. While there are areas for Chinese-American cooperation in Africa, it is less clear how American business will benefit directly from the Belt and Road Initiative.

Chinese-built Railway Project in Kenya

The China-Africa Research Initiative at Johns Hopkins University published in October 2016 a policy brief titled "Local Politics Meets Chinese Engineers: A Study of the Chinese-built Standard Gauge Railway Project in Kenya" by Uwe Wissenbach and Yuan Wang.

The authors conclude that the standard gauge railway project in Kenya has sparked controversy around its economic viability, corruption, opaque contracting practices, financing arrangements, and community and labor issues. The project has also created modest development opportunities for local content, jobs, and skills.

Chinese Infrastructure Engagement in Africa

The China-Africa Research Initiative (CARI) at Johns Hopkins University School for Advanced International Studies hosted on 13-14 October 2016 a conference in Washington titled "Orient Express: Chinese Infrastructure Engagement in Africa."

Videos of the panels and presentations are available below:

--Panel 1: Roads, Railroads, and Ports I

--Panel 2: Roads, Railroads, and Ports II

--Keynote Speech: Jamie Monson, Michigan State University and Panel 3: Power

--Panel 3: Power (Continued)

--Panel 4: Financing

--Panel 5: Environment and Corporate Social Responsibility

--Panel 6: Labor and Skills Transfer

Huawei in Africa

Asia Times published on 16 October 2016 an article titled "Huawei's Quest for Hearts and Minds in Africa" by Claire van den Heever.

The article notes that Huawei mixes its multimillion dollar investments in training, equipment and facilities with a public relations onslaught.

He Wenping Interview on China-Africa Relations

I recently ran across a particularly informative interview given 30 January 2013 by He Wenping, director of African Studies at the China Academy of Social Sciences, to Tendai Musakwa of the ChinaAfrica Project.

She covers membership in the China African Studies Association, China's position on African peacekeeping operations, France's military intervention in Mali, China's administration of foreign aid, environmental issues, corporate social responsibility (CSR), China's media presence in Africa and Africans living in Guangzhou.