Riassunto analitico
The main objective of this paper is to examine the existing relationship between China and Africa. The rising influence exerted by China in the African continent attracted international attention and opened an on-going debate about human rights and the non-intervention policy.
In order to better investigate benefits and drawbacks of Chinese engagement in Africa, the study focused on three main area – aid, trade and investment – highlighting at the same time the main differences with the Western approach.
To have a comprehensive and complete overview of the Sino-African relations, the thesis is divided into five sections.
Section one explores the evolution of China’s foreign policy from Mao Zedong’s era to the present. The historical background is necessary to conceive the Chinese approach to Africa and to international markets in general. It also helps to understand how principles at the basis of the actual foreign policy took form.
During the second section, development assistance from traditional donors is compared to aid from emerging countries, especially China, which became the leader of the South-South Cooperation.
Section three focus on trade, measuring the value of imports and exports, their composition, showing Africa’s and China’s comparative advantages and comparing data with other countries.
In section four investments are considered as a strategic tool for China to gain political influence in Africa and as the main vehicle for African countries to develop infrastructures.
Finally, section five tries to predict future trends, to show how China and Africa relations could evolve and to determine whether a more balanced relation is actually possible.
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