Cheru, Fantu and Cyril Obi (eds.), The Rise of China & India in Africa: Challenges

Africa and Asia have a long history of politico- economic relations and the scale and pace of trade and investment flows has been growing in recent times. African countries are no silent spectators to the economic rise of China and India; they are party to the growth story. In this context, The Rise of China & India in Africa: Challenges, Opportunities and Critical Interventions offers a timely analysis of China and India’s engagement in Africa. It demonstrates how the growing economic power of India and China is influencing the growth patterns of African countries, particularly the oil and commodities-exporting countries, and the consequences of such influence.

While discussing the 21st century strategic and developmental challenges for Africa, the authors opine that the post-Cold War world provides an opportunity for Africa to move from the margins into the mainstream of the politico-economic scenario. Southern powers like China and India have become Africa’s most important economic partners thus affecting a transformation in Africa’s international relations dynamic. Other emerging economies such as Brazil, South Korea, Malaysia and Vietnam are also actively engaging in Africa indicating that North-South relations are being superseded by the Southeast and emerging Africa-Gulf-Asia triangular relations.

Given this context, the first section on The Big Picture: China and India as Emerging Giants highlights China, India and South Africa’s engagement within the CIBS (China, India, Brazil and South Africa Dialogue), BRICS and IBSA, and discusses whether South Africa dominates or facilitates Africa’s interests in these groups. However, the authors have ignored other players like Nigeria. This section also elaborates India’s African engagement relative to the Chinese with reference to broadening of its economic horizons and the quest for energy security, trade and investment opportunities. However, the strategies both countries employ to extend their influence in Africa are different and India recognises the challenge posed by China. Though initiatives have been taken by the Indian government to encourage its private sector to expand into Africa, these are minuscule compared to the high degree of political and financial support that Chinese stateowned enterprises (SOEs) receive from their government. While China currently dominates the African market, India will have the comparative advantage in the long run given its strong diaspora, geographical proximity, first-class educational system and democratic polity.

China and India’s Relations with Africa: A Historical Perspective gives an overview of China and India’s relationship with Africa. China’s engagement with Africa started in the form of cultural cooperation and has evolved into Sino-African development cooperation since 1955. Yet, China began its serious foray into Africa only after the colonial era, when it tried to reinvent its cultural diplomacy and started investing in Africa, particularly in infrastructure. Conversely, India’s trade with Africa, mainly its eastern and southern regions, dates back, at least to the days of the Silk Road. Post-1947, their relations primarily focused on political engagement for promoting global peace and international cooperation under the banner of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM). India’s relationship with Africa became more pragmatic from the 1990s.

China and India’s Growth Surge in Africa outlines the implications of China and India’s presence in Africa. For Africa, the emergence of China and India as potential development partners came at a time when it was looking for solutions for its developmental challenges. China and India’s history as former colonies and their growth raised hopes among African nations to tackle poverty, underdevelopment and aid dependency. The section details China’s exports of manufactured goods and investments in network industries especially in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Kenya. From the Indian perspective, the role of the private sector in the health and agricultural sectors of Africa is explored. The evidence, however, questions whether the ascendancy of the Asian giants in Africa can really open up the ‘alternative policy space’ that the African countries are looking for.

The Conflict-Development Nexus: A Precarious Balance analyses the debate over ‘conflict vs. development’. As the West is losing influence in Africa, China is endeavouring to evolve a new security relationship with the African Union (AU) in response to conflicts such as in Darfur; this is a new test for China’s Africa policy. The section further deals with a range of related issues such as genocide, non-interference, responsibility to protect, the approach to engagement and China’s role in these. This section also covers the bilateral relationship between China and Zambia.

The Scramble for African Oil and Resources focuses on energy security calculations of China and India. The authors have argued that these countries actively engage African countries through developmental aid, and expanding trade and investment in strategic sectors to influence international politics, gain access to growing markets and acquire much-needed raw materials from the continent. African policy-makers and some scholars widely believe that China and India can provide strategic options and a policy space that they have been compelled to surrender.

The authors have cautioned against ‘neo-colonialism by invitation’, arguing that Africa’s growing engagement with Asian countries can only be positive if they negotiate from a stronger and informed platform at both the national and regional level. The overall impact of this engagement has been positive in the short term. Yet, there is little research on its actual influence on Africa’s economic transformation. The book, instead of replicating existing studies, defines the priorities for an African response that will be able to harness the opportunities provided by the presence of China and India to reduce poverty and ensure people-oriented development. Overall, the book is rich in content, is thoroughly researched with in-depth analyses and case studies. It is also timely as the debates on Africa’s place in establishing global peace, energy security and politics continue.