Same Same but Different? India–Africa Relations and Chinese Involvement in the Continent

Abstract

India’s involvement in Africa today is often viewed in economic terms only, mainly focusing on resources. The narrative of an emerging power just looking for oil is nowadays used for India’s involvement in Africa as much as for Beijing’s foray into the continent. Although both countries’ reinforced involvement in the continent is the most important development of Africa’s international relations since the end of the Cold War, this approach poses the danger of overlooking or at least playing down important nuances and possible differences between the Indian and the Chinese way of dealing with Africa today. As a matter of fact, officials in New Delhi try to dissociate their policy vis-à-vis Africa from Beijing’s ‘game plan’. But to what extent do India’s and China’s involvement in Africa actually differ? This article lays out an analytical framework for comparing Indian and Chinese involvement in Africa and subsequently helps examine historical, political and economic relations between the two emerging powers and Africa. It seeks to contribute to a more nuanced understanding of New Delhi’s involvement in Africa beyond conventional, sometimes simplistic, assumptions by contrasting India–Africa with China–Africa relations and carving out differences and similarities.