Coevolutionary pragmatism: approaches and impacts of China-Africa Economic Cooperation

Abstract

After more than two decades of China–Africa scholarship, many exemplary scholarly works exist to help steer complex conversations and debunk the increasing myths and misunderstandings about China’s surging interests in Africa. Like some of the perceptive works, Xiaoyang Tang’s finely conceptualized and analysed book stands out among many. With a wide grasp of the numerous complex issues facing China–Africa engagements in a multidisciplinary manner, this book helps break the usual tussle between apologists and sceptics of China–Africa cooperation. He largely achieves this with an enriched work based on years of his fieldwork cleverly interwoven with concepts and conclusions that simply help answer the question of whether China’s development approach offers alternative opportunities to advance African economic development. Tang largely stays away from the traditional unilinear and rather monolithic development perspective that has been considered ineffectual in delivering the rewards of sustainable economic growth in developing countries—Washington Consensus. Instead, he brilliantly offers a fresh perspective born out of the old wisdom of economic growth through pertinent engagements among multiple (Chinese and African) stakeholders, at diverse levels—from grassroots to policymakers. In eight carefully crafted chapters and a conclusion, the book begins with a conceptual exposition. Similar to the ideals of the post-Washington Consensus, Tang effectively theorizes the coevolutionary pragmatic approach by establishing that ‘China and the West no longer disagree on the value of capitalist markets’ (p. 7) and that instead of the infamous prescribed unilinear approach to the development served by Washington institutions, China in essence drives market economic principles through diverse socio-political systems.