Beyond Neoextractivism and neoimperialism ChinaAfrica relations in perspective
Beyond Neo-extractivism and neoimperialism China-Africa relations in perspective Solange Chatelard, Sciences Po Paris/ULB 24 June 2019
Old Beijing
1956 -1970 s
What has changed • No longer challenging the Soviets/Russia • End of diplomatic race with Taiwan: PRC enters UN Security Council 1971 (replacing) • China’s Crisis of Success: New Business Model (Shrinking workforce to sustain a growing ageing population)
China’s Crisis of Success • Structurally imbalanced • Overcapacity • Under-resourced
China’s new era of Reform “China 2025” • Continued growth and success requires a reinvention of its’ business model (technostrategic ambition) • Deep domestic reform (indigenous innovation + domestic consumption + socio-demographic alignment) • Deeper international integration
Lusaka 2011
Knocking on a wide open door… no trespassing • Africa’s dual liberalisation: deep political (multiparty politics) and economic reform (privatisation) • Domestic climate welcoming foreign investment. Private sector driven national development programmes • Rising resource nationalism
Art of resilience vs beginners luck • Late comers, smaller investments • Inexperienced and under-exposed • Key state interest competing with second tier state interests • State capital is long term (patient investor) • State capital is more flexible
• What are they doing differently? – Add value locally – Diversity of activity and investment – Long term patient investor – Open to negotiate
Conclude • Hard economic agenda (private enterprise) • Hard geopolitical agenda (SOE, strategic investment) • Acknowledge the diversity and contradiction within BRI and the institutions of host countries • Work creatively, along concrete interfaces, build constructive synergies
- Slides: 26
