The politics of Chinese engagement with African 'development' case studies of Angola and Ghana

Completed

Fossil Fuels: Oil Gas and Coal(Oil and Gas, Other oil and gas)
Not Energy Related
Other Cross-Cutting Technologies or Research(Environmental, social and economic impacts)

Basic and strategic applied research

SOCIAL SCIENCES (Politics and International Studies)
SOCIAL SCIENCES (Development Studies)
AREA STUDIES (Middle Eastern and African Studies)
AREA STUDIES (Asian Studies)

Not Cross-cutting
Sociological economical and environmental impact of energy (Other sociological economical and environmental impact of energy)

Dr G Mohan
Development Policy and Practice
Open University

Standard

ESRC

01 August 2007

31 January 2011

42 months

£296,444

No relevance to Underpinning Sectors

East of England

ESRC Oil

Dr G Mohan, Development Policy and Practice, Open University

Dr M Power, Geography, Durham University

Project Contact, Research Partner in China

Objectives not supplied

Chinas enhanced role within the global economy has profound political implications across the world, but takes a particular form in Africa. Meeting Chinas increased demand for resources from Africa and expanding her markets also means securing political influence. Over the past few years China has pumped in much aid and technical support to Africa and for the first time since the end of the Cold War African leaders have genuine choices about which aid donors and investorsto workwith. Given the problems of governance across much of the continent these new economic and political choices will have major impacts on African leaders, political parties, civil society groups and other aid donors. This research assesses what impacts Chinese aid, trade and investment are having on the politics of specific African countries and the extent to which it excites geopolitical competition. This will be examined through case studies of Angola and Ghana, which represent different examples of Chinas development partnerships in Africa. Angola possesses oil resources that China desperately needs, whereas Ghana lacks strategic resources, but is an important market and political ally. The research is based on semi-structured interviews with opinion leaders and case studies of specific Sino-African collaborations.

20/09/11