How does Chinese development abroad in Africa reflect colonial histories in the region?

Question

How does Chinese development abroad in Africa reflect colonial histories in the region? 

Answer 1

Great question. The political and cultural landscape of Africa today reflects the hundreds of years by which Africa was divided up and under the control of European colonial powers. The greatest piece of evidence of colonial rule in Africa would be the political boundaries established by the Berlin Conference of 1884. Many of the current boundaries by country in Africa were drawn up by the European colonizers during that conference. The extraction of raw materials from Africa for the purposes of industrialization has limited many economies of African countries to advance, especially when using Rostow's model and Wallerstein's interdendency model. Furthermore, the civil unrest and constant civil wars that have plagued Africa for hundreds of years have been an indirect consequence of colonization and imperialism in Africa's history (in other words, once European colonization ended in Africa over a period of time, whether by force or diplomacy, it created a power vacuum).

As far as China is concerned, their involvement in Africa is more of an example of neo-colonialism, which is a newer form of colonization focusing on economic and political influence over African countries and the region in general, which is merely a continuation of that African colonialism but in a different form. China's investment has been by emphasis o0f infrastructure projects and the extraction of raw materials to benefit their own economic gain (arguably). Although Africa may/will benefit from Chinese investments, many argue "how much" is China truly investing in Africa with the emphasis on helping the region economically develop versus their own personal gain. China has also been criticized for being less concerned with human rights and supporting democratic governments (Western critique), and rather has supported authoritarian regimes which China views as easier to do business with and perhaps have more stability.

Unlike European colonial powers, China does not seek to establish political influence over the African region and instead maintain a purely economic relationship with countries of Africa.

Believe it or not, but this is a very superficial and short explanation. This is a very in-depth and complex question to answer.