China's foreign direct investment in Africa's land: hallmarks of neo-colonialism or South–South cooperation?

Abstract

Since the end of the Cold War and the emergence of globalization, China's economic role has gained significant prominence in a system once dominated by capital from developed countries. Undeniably, the increasing role of China's foreign direct investment in Africa's land is transforming the agricultural sector of the region. Beijing's visible presence in the international political economy has attracted distinctive attention in both academic and media discourse across the globe but more importantly in the developing geopolitical terrains such as Africa. The discussion of Sino-African relationship at policy levels is therefore compelling against such a background. The major concern has been whether Beijing's direct investment in Africa's land marks any important change in Africa's international political economy. Trade between the two partners has grown significantly and Beijing is accorded access to supplies of natural resources such as land, diamond, coopers and oil among other vital resources. The paper seeks to examine the most pertinent question in relation to China–Africa relationship: To what extent is Chinese involvement in Africa's land any different from the hallmarks of neo-colonialism?