China's Relations with Africa: A New Era of Strategic Engagement

 The March 2024 issue of The Journal of Modern African Studies published a review by Padraig Carmody of our book, China's Relations with Africa: A New Era of Strategic Engagement.  

China's Relations with Africa: A New Era of Strategic Engagement

 China's Relations with Africa: A New Era of Strategic Engagement has been published by Columbia University Press (CUP) and will be widely available online and in bookstores as of 1 August.  CUP kindly made an initial paperback and eBook edition available so that it is affordable.  Preorder guidelines are explained in the link above.  

Publication brings to an end a five-year project that resulted in considerable research in Africa and China.  Due to the fast changing nature of the China-Africa relationship, the project resulted in numerous rewrites and constant updating.  It covers all countries in Africa, including North Africa.  The book focuses on the political, security, and strategic relationship.   

Africa and China-US Rivalry

 The Conversation published on 20 March 2023 a commentary titled "US-China Tensions: How Africa Can Avoid Being Caught in a New Cold War" by John Stremlau, University of the Witwatersrand.

The essay suggests ways that Africa can avoid becoming entangled in US-China global rivalry, while maintaining productive partnerships with both nations.  

Relative Importance of Africa to China

 Geopolitical Monitor published on 5 December 2022 an analysis titled "China-Africa Relations in Review" by Thierry Pairault.  

The author untangles the common confusion involving China's investing, financing, and providing services in Africa.  He concludes that China is economically important to Africa but Africa is not economically important to China.  On the other hand, because of their 54 votes in the UN General Assembly African countries are politically important to China.  By economically and financially assisting African countries, China is building a clientele of dependent countries that provide it with political support.

Impact of China's Loans and Investment on African Political Alignment

 The Foreign Policy Research Institute published on 24 January 2022 a study titled "Chinese Economic Engagement in Africa: Implications for U.S. Policy" by Carla D. Jones, Hermann A. Ndofor, and Mengge Li.  

The study concludes that China's growing loans and foreign direct investment in 54 African countries from 2001 to 2018 coincided with a significant political alignment of the African countries with China.  During the same period, there was a slight decrease in the political alignment of these countries with the United States.