China's Development Model: Can it be Replicated in Sub‐Saharan Africa?

Abstract

Viewed as an economic long march from poverty to middle‐income status, China's four decades of rapid economic growth can seem little short of miraculous. Unsurprisingly, such a record is bound to inspire imitators, and China's political‐economic model of authoritarian capitalism or state‐sponsored neoliberalism has attracted many admirers in Africa. But viewed as a rapid rebound after the removal of catastrophic Maoist economic mismanagement, China's growth spurt has done little more than bring China up to the level of other semiperipheral countries in Asia, the post‐Soviet space, and Latin America. China's economy rapidly grew to a level commensurate with its state capacity, and it is now leveling out at that level. The low levels of state capacity that have historically prevented most African countries from reaching middle‐income levels of GDP per capita still prevail, and until these change, African countries will not be able to follow China into middle‐income status.Related Articles (in this Special Issue)Davidsson, Simon. 2020. “Modeling the Impact of a Model: The (Non)Relationship between China's Economic Rise and African Democracy.” Politics & Policy 48 (5).Hodzi, Obert. 2020. “African Political Elites and the Making(s) of the China Model in Africa.” Politics & Policy 48 (5).Hodzi, Obert, and John H. S. Åberg. 2020. “Introduction to the Special Issue: Strategic Deployment of the China Model in Africa.” Politics & Policy 48 (5).