Is China’s Role in African Fragile States Exploitative or Developmental?

This briefing examines China’s policy and practice in Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo

From:: Department for International Development
Published: 1 January 2015

Country:: China, Congo (Democratic Republic) and Rwanda
Document Type:: Briefing
Theme:: Governance and Conflict
Authors:: Jing Gu and McCluskey, R.

Abstract

China’s increasing engagement in Africa has generated heated debates over the extent to which its activities are exploitative or developmental. There is particular concern over China’s impact on governance in fragile states. However, these debates often make generalisations and leave out African agency. This Policy Briefing takes a closer look at Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo, and finds that there is a large gap between China’s policy and practice. It finds that the ways in which African actors promote, respond to and negotiate its engagement is crucial in shaping the extent to which China contributes to development.

Citation

Jing Gu; McCluskey, R. Is China’s Role in African Fragile States Exploitative or Developmental? Institute of Development Studies (IDS), Brighton, UK (2015) 4 pp. [IDS Policy Briefing 91]