Coevolutionary Pragmatism: Approaches and Impacts of China-Africa Economic Cooperation

by Xiaoyang Tang

China-Africa economic tie has experienced lasting rapid growth since the 2000s, attracting lots of discussion on its nature and effects. A key question is whether Chinese engagements provide an alternative paradigm to existing mainstream models, like Washington Consensus, for developing countries. However, theories on state-market dichotomy can hardly explain the strong momentum of bilateral cooperation. By examining a broad range of practices with solid field research, including trade, infrastructure, agriculture, manufacturing, industrial zones, labor and socio-environmental preservation, this book proposes a new angle of non-linear circular causality to understand Chinese approaches to work with Africa. Guided by the pursuit for sustainable growth rather than by specific models, Chinese actors are able to experiment diverse methods to foster structural transformation in Africa. In particular, the author carefully records mutual influences between Chinese and African stakeholders at all levels, from grassroots to policy making, to illustrate the effects of coevolving industrialization.

300 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 21, 2021

Reviews

[Christopher Watterson · Rating 4 out of 5]

While a decent history of Chinese engagement with Africa, it seldom delves into the nuances and implications of it. I would point someone to it more as a reference text for how that cooperation has evolved than for particular insight into how it will continue to do so in the future.