Zed Books The Rise of China and India in Africa: Challenges, Opportunities and Critical Interventions (Africa Now)

In recent years, China and India have become the most important economic partners of Africa and their footprints are growing by leaps and bounds, transforming Africa's international relations in a dramatic way. Although the overall impact of China and India's engagement in Africa has been positive in the short-term, partly as a result of higher returns from commodity exports fuelled by excessive demands from both countries, little research exists on the actual impact of China and India's growing involvement on Africa's economic transformation. This book examines in detail the opportunities and challenges posed by the increasing presence of China and India in Africa, and proposes critical interventions that African governments must undertake in order to negotiate with China and India from a stronger and more informed platform. Review 'The emergence of China and India as key global players propelling what promises to be a new Asian era in world history is widely recognised by scholars as one of the most significant developments of our time. As can be expected, the literature that has mushroomed on the subject is replete with controversy. No where is this controversy more pronounced than with regard to the Chinese and Indian engagement with and in Africa. It is the distinct merit of this book that it eschews propaganda to offer a richly documented, balanced and nuanced analysis of different aspects of the diverse roles which China and India are assuming in Africa. Readers will find the book to be both educative and critical' --Adebayo Olukoshi, Director, African Institute for Economic Development and Planning 'World hegemonies are shifting from the Atlantic to the Pacific and the Indian Ocean. The rise of China and India, the relative decline of the US and the waning centrality of Europe will all have far-reaching impact on Africa. The new geo-political stratgey of the US expressed openly in the militarisation of the African continent would find the Eastern seaboard of Africa the weakest link in the Indian Ocean rim. Under the circumstances, a deeper understanding of the global situation and its impact on Africa is cricially important. The contributors to this book attempt to provide us with such an understanding. It is most welcome.' --Issa G. Shivji, Mwalimu Nyerere University Professor of Pan-African Studies, University of Dar es Salaam 'A timely work of scholarship that doesn't shy away from hard questions regarding the implications of Asia's rise for African development. It will be welcomed by academics, policy makers and students alike for its clear-eyed analysis, data and comparative insights.' --Chris Alden About the Author Fantu Cheru is Research Director and Cyril Obi a Senior Researcher at The Nordic Africa Institute Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved. The Rise of China and India in Africa Challenges, Opportunities and Critical Interventions By Fantu Cheru, Cyril Obi Zed Books Ltd Copyright © 2010 Fantu Cheru and Cyril Obi All rights reserved. ISBN: 978-1-84813-436-2 Contents Tables and figures, vii, Acronyms and abbreviations, viii, Foreword by Gunilla Carlsson, xi, Introduction – Africa in the twenty-first century: strategic and development challenges Fantu Cheru and Cyril Obi, 1, PART ONE The big picture: China and India as emerging giants, 1 China, India and (South) Africa: what international relations in the second decade of the twenty-first century? Timothy M. Shaw, 13, 2 South-South strategic bases for Africa to engage China Dot Keet, 21, 3 India's African relations: in the shadow of China? Sanusha Naidu, 34, PART TWO China and India's relations with Africa: a historical perspective, 4 China's development cooperation with Africa: historical and cultural perspectives Liu Haifang, 53, 5 Engaging Africa: India's interests in the African continent, past and present Sanjukta Banerji Bhattacharya, 63, 6 Indian development coope