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Botchway, Francis N. --- "Regime Theory and China–Africa Economic Relations: New Ideas in Old Paradigms?" [2011] ELECD 412; in Botchway, N. Francis (ed), "Natural Resource Investment and Africa’s Development" (Edward Elgar Publishing, 2011)

Book Title: Natural Resource Investment and Africa’s Development

Editor(s): Botchway, N. Francis

Publisher: Edward Elgar Publishing

ISBN (hard cover): 9781848446793

Section: Chapter 11

Section Title: Regime Theory and China–Africa Economic Relations: New Ideas in Old Paradigms?

Author(s): Botchway, Francis N.

Number of pages: 27

Extract:

11. Regime theory and China­Africa
economic relations: new ideas in
old paradigms?
Francis N. Botchway

1 INTRODUCTION

China's relationship with Africa dates as far back as 202 bc, but 1955
is hailed as the genesis of the modern phase of Sino-African relations.1
One reason for this thinking is that the key principles of Chinese foreign
policy, which were later re-stated for African purposes, were enunciated at
the Bandung Africa­Asia Conference held in that year.2 Although China
contributed significantly to Africa's development with such projects as the
TanZam railway, the match factory in Guinea and the sending of agricul-
tural experts to Ghana and Mali, China's involvement in Africa prior to
1990 was mainly influenced by politics3 ­ a big developing country helping
other developing countries in their struggle for economic and political
independence. Since the `Open Door' policy, China's relationship with
Africa has clearly been much more economic.4 The centrepiece of Chinese
African policy is mutuality of benefit.5 This is evidenced in the packaging
of investments in Africa, the building of infrastructure, and other projects,
in return for access to Africa's resources, particularly energy resources.
The first question that this chapter attempts to answer is whether this is
the beginning of a new economic order. It could be, depending largely on
the response of Africa's other development partners.
The second question is: what is the role of law in this `new' relation-
ship? Are Chinese economic relations ...