Africa Cooperation Research Articles

Credible commitment and large dam development in sub-Saharan Africa

ABSTRACT This article examines the factors that facilitate or hinder credible commitment in large dam investment cooperation in sub-Saharan Africa, which even with an abundance of untapped hydropower potential has a shortfall of electricity generation and supply. Research finds an uneven pattern of large dam development on the continent, indicating the lack of traditional investment to promote energy security. Investment for hydropower development requires cooperation between several stakeholders, and its success depends on the credible commitment by a host government. Drawing on a comparative study of the Cahora Bassa Dam and the Inga III Project, this article examines why the latter yielded a failed outcome. The study finds that factors such as regime insecurity and uncertainty, regime type and the institutions, context and interest of actors, as well as market and market proximity can incentivise and equally hinder a host government’s ability to credibly commit to large dam investment cooperation.

Eastern Africa’s tobacco value chain: links with China

While debates continue about China’s role in sub-Saharan Africa, there is growing consensus that China is a different kind of development partner. One distinct feature of Chinese partnerships is that they include support for the tobacco industry, a sector other donor states and institutions shun. Not only is tobacco a primary agricultural export in a number of Africa states, the state-owned Chinese National Tobacco Corporation is the largest tobacco company in the world. This paper analyses Chinese support for the tobacco industry in three states – Zimbabwe, Malawi and Zambia – documenting how co-operation is shaped by Chinese state capitalism and assessing the development and governance implications. Following an introduction situating the analysis within the context of China–Africa co-operation and tobacco’s global value chain, Chinese engagement in each country is analysed. Findings indicate that, despite differences across case studies in terms of development outcomes, common governance implications are apparent. African elites initiated tobacco-related co-operation to meet their interests, but Chinese interests dominated implementation. Consequently, Chinese investments have maintained hierarchal governance of an exploitive and harmful industry. Analyses of Chinese African co-operation need to move beyond public–private paradigms and interrogate the nuances of Chinese state capitalism in Africa.

Necessity of Restructuring the China-Africa Education Cooperation to Leverage the Fastest-Growing Economic Ties

Study Focus: This article put forward the necessity of rebalancing the China-Africa Fastest-Growing Economic Ties with a Leveraged Education Cooperation as well as the necessity of restructuring the actual patterns of China-Africa Education Cooperation. Methodology: The content of this paper relies on written documents (including books, scientific journals, articles, and official reports) from primary and secondary sources most of which are available online as well as on the author’s teaching experience in Chinese and African Universities. Findings: 1) “Business” but not "Education” remains the top driver of the China-Africa cooperation. Therefore, it is noteworthy questioning the share of fundamental areas of cooperation such as Education and Culture that should pioneer and propel sustainable partnerships. 2) African countries seem disadvantaged in the actual patterns of China-Africa Education Cooperation. There is a need to restructure the cooperation on education and improve the overall image of China and Africa Cooperation. 3) The Chinese Study of Africa and the African Study of China are not contemporary stories, but a continuous course of very old history that can be traced back before the Christian era and should be further promoted in today’s modern academia. 4) From a theoretical basis to a scientific methodology, from institutionalized frameworks to government policies, an epistemic assessment of China by the African academic circles is of urgent need. The African scholarship should have its de-westernized appraisal of China and vice-versa. 5) Up to now, there is no genuine African Sinology in African academic curriculums. A sort of Africa-centered study of China that fulfills traditional discipline criteria must be put in place in today's African Academia. Conclusion & Suggestions: In brief, there is a real necessity of rebalancing the China-Africa fastest-growing economic ties with leveraged education cooperation and reforms. It is for Chinese and African scholars a sole duty to brainstorm new patterns of cooperation, and so paves new ways for an in-depth study and understanding of China and Africa. Moreover, a genuine African Sinology that uses a socio-scientific methodology to critically examine and investigate China, understands the Chinese spirit by all means and draw the benefits for the interests of African people must take place in African education curriculums. For that purpose, the present article proposes the terminology “Afrisinology” as a new paradigm to approach the African Study of China in African academia. Keywords: African Studies, Sinology, “Afrisinology”, China-Africa Education Cooperation. DOI: 10.7176/JAAS/62-03 Publication date: March 31 st 2020

China colonizing Africa narrative on social media: An issue activation and response perspective

Abstract The issue of ‘China colonizing Africa’ received significant attention in both traditional and social media in the periods before, during and after the Forum on China Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) 2018 meeting. This study traces these discourses on YouTube, which is one of the social media platforms widely used to raise awareness and also influence public opinion on various issues. Thematic and content analysis are used to identify the dominant themes discussed in the selected videos and also to identify the sentiments expressed by viewers in the comments posted. The issue activation and response model is used to create meaning from the data. The study finds that the themes and the sentiments reflect the dominance of pessimistic and optimistic perspectives on the Africa–China relationship. Furthermore, the study shows that the themes discussed have not offered new perspectives but instead the discussions have repackaged old narratives as part of agenda building efforts by the protagonists. The study, therefore argues that social media have become important platforms for activation of issues on the Africa–China relationship, hence the persistence of these old narratives is attributed to lack of effective responses to issues on social media by both African countries and Chinese officials.

Perspectives on The Soviet Union and the Horn of Africa during the Cold War

Perspectives on <i>The Soviet Union and the Horn of Africa during the Cold War</i>

South–South Cooperation in Africa: The Niger-Turkey Case

Developed countries provided foreign aid to developing nations at an unprecedented rate in the second half of the twentieth century. Notwithstanding, the literature indicates that North–South aid largely failed to achieve its publicly stated goals, whereas South–South cooperation (SSC) emerges as a potential solution with several presumed advantages. Addressing the lack of evidence for those advantages, this study investigates South–South aid by conducting focus groups and semi-structured interviews with recipients of the Turkish state and nongovernmental aid in Niger. Prioritizing the experiences of aid recipients is a novel aspect of our research since existing studies mostly employ data collected from aid providers. Both countries offer important insights for the studied phenomenon, since the donor is a Southern member of the Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development (OECD) with global aid practices, whereas the recipient is the lowest-ranked country in the Human Development Index, thus providing a challenge for any donor. Our findings point out that SSC has a strong potential for delivering effective and sustainable aid with some limitations. This study concludes with implications for future research.

Россия и Китай в Африке: соперничество или сотрудничество?

The article provides comparative analysis of political and economic activities of Russia and China in the African continent at the beginning of the 21st century. Drivers of modern processes of bilateral communication Russia&ndash;Africa and China&ndash;Africa are highlighted along with media and scholarly discourse of &ldquo;expansion&rdquo; and &ldquo;colonialism&rdquo;. Statistical data are grouped and compared according to traditional approach: bilateral trade; investments; credits and loans. It is evident that by quantitative indices in almost all spheres of economics (save for supply of weapons), Russia falls far behind China which is currently the main builder of various infrastructure objects in Africa. The basic principle of China&ndash;Africa cooperation can be formulated as &ldquo;aid-to-resources exchange&rdquo;. Chinese state-backed and private business regard the African infrastructure buildup as a means of access to rich mineral resources of the continent. Russia does not have an adequate demographic and financial background for deepening its involvement into the economic life of Africa. Cultural influence, rather strong in Soviet times, is also very limited in the modern &ldquo;deideologised&rdquo; political atmosphere. Therefore Russia is trying to substitute its relative economic weakness with bigger-scale involvement into military and political actions of some African regimes. Chinese expansion to Africa is primarily of economic character, Russia is preoccupied with political influence first of all. At the same time, the recent dynamics in Russian-African trade has shown a highly positive trend promising good prospects in the sphere of traditional low-technology products.

Probing the progress of the external dimension of the Bologna process

Purpose This paper aims to assess the “external dimension” goals of the Pan European Bologna reform, almost 19 years after its launch. The influences of the reform on higher education in Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean, and Asia-Pacific are investigated. The paper analyses the appeal of the 1999 Bologna Process (BP), which, arguably, symbolizes an effort to strengthen the hegemony of Western European education and influence, has for the first time gone beyond ex-colonial lines, including areas where Europe’s socio-political influence is not impactful. Design/methodology/approach This paper opted for an analytical review of the literature on the European higher education internationalization goals as stated in external dimension objectives of the Bologna Process reform. The literature search was complicated by the limited number of peer review articles focusing on the spread of the Bologna model beyond Europe. As a result, the inclusion criteria were flexible, and consideration was given to educational website reports/articles, dissertations, books, pamphlets, and internal EU/European Commission reports. Findings The findings of this review indicate that, in spite of significant challenges, the internationalization objectives of Bologna Process are gradually being met in Africa, Latin America and Asia. Most notable is that some countries that historically did not have a European colonial presence are embracing aspects of the Bologna reform. Almost 19 years after, the BP reform now has a significant external influence not only in the former Portuguese, Spanish, British and French colonies but also beyond. In spite of the overwhelming embrace of the BP model in Europe and outside of Europe, its implementation, everywhere, has faced some administrative, political, and economic challenges. Research limitations/implications The study examined the spread of the Bologna Process models beyond Europe and not its acceptability by stakeholders such as faculty and students outside Europe. Future research could examine the satisfaction rates among higher education stakeholders in regions and countries embracing the BP models. Practical implications The findings of this review indicate that the steady spread of the BP means that more countries and tertiary education institutions can explore opportunities aimed at developing more educational and socioeconomic partnership, including the exchange of knowledge, technology and resources. Originality/value While emphasizing the benefits and opportunities for cooperation, the paper identifies that the increasing internationalization trends influenced by the BP are leading to regional higher education cooperation in Asia, Latin America and Africa. Other higher education models around the world can learn from the marketing strategies of the BP aided by EU.

China's multinational corporations in the Democratic Republic of Congo's mining industry: An Afrocentric critique

China's entrance in Africa in the early 2000s through the Forum on China–Africa Cooperation has apparently signalled several mutual beneficial agreements. However, there is a view that the Asian tiger's (China) arrival on the African soil was driven by its national interests. Such interests were particularly in the continent's rich mineral resources complex, which are deemed significant for its own economic boom. This observation reflects that scholars and practitioners alike have not uniformly understood China's engagement with Africa. Therefore, this paper problematizes what is often cited as the second “scramble for Africa” within the context of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). It argues that Chinese mining companies' operations in DRC are no different to the early colonial masters who only came to Africa for nothing else but mineral resources in order to develop their own nations at the peril of Africa's own development. Based on Afrocentricity as the alternative theoretical lens, this paper seeks to critique the involvement of Chinese Multinational Corporations in the mineral resources complex of DRC. Methodically, this paper relies on document review and analysis in its broadest sense.

The ILO PRO169 programme: learning from technical cooperation in Latin America and Southern Africa

ABSTRACTTaking as a point of departure an evaluation conducted for the International Labour Organization’s Programme to Promote ILO Convention No. 169 (PRO 169) this article examines the strategic approaches of the ILO towards the promotion of indigenous peoples’ rights. Through technical assistance to a wide range of stakeholders, PRO 169 sought to work at various levels to increase awareness, build capacity, and support policy initiatives within individual countries and geographic regions. This article describes a Spanish-funded project within PRO 169 that had specific focus in Latin America and in Southern Africa. We examine the specific dynamics in each of these regions, and the impact of the programme on the ground. This project ended abruptly when the Spanish government was unable to renew funding, and the entire PRO 169 programme was folded into the restructuring of the ILO a few years later. We argue that the technical support for the promotion of indigenous peoples’ rights that the ILO has been providing is critical, and that it should receive core funding, and not be dependent upon external funding and vulnerable to economic and political vagaries.

China–Africa Education Cooperation: From FOCAC to Belt and Road

Purpose:The article discusses the relationship between the human resource traditions of the Forum on China–Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) and those supported by the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), and in particular by the Education Action Plan for the Belt and Road Initiative, issued by the Chinese Ministry of Education (MOE) in 2016.Design/Approach/Methods:The article draws upon discourse analysis of both the FOCAC VI and VII documents and the key MOE 2016 Action Plan.Findings:Given the trans-continental coverage of the BRI, it is suggested that its ambitious pledges in respect of education and human resource development (HRD) actually complement or even exceed the commitments made by FOCAC VI and VII.Originality/Value:This is the first article explicitly to compare the HRD pledges of FOCAC with those associated with BRI’s Education Action Plan.

Through their Eyes: Reporters’ Challenges in Covering China-Africa Relations

ABSTRACT Since the “official formalization” of China–Africa relations through the establishment of Forum on China–Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) in 2000, there has been increased media coverage of the China–Africa relations in national and regional news media outlets in China and several African countries. However, media critics as well as scholarly studies have noted several of the stories from the coverage are biased, slanted and superficial in nature or read more like state-sponsored public relation reporting. In view of the criticisms of China–Africa reporting in both scholarly literature and non-academic sources, this study surveyed journalists who received reporting grants from the Africa–China Reporting Project of Wits University, South Africa, to gain insights on how journalists perceive the reportage of China–Africa relations and the constraints that journalists frequently face in reporting China–Africa relations from the field.

Why is Canada Involved in Mali?

&#x0D; &#x0D; &#x0D; On June 20th 2019, the Canadian Association for Security and Intelligence Studies (CASIS) Vancouver hosted Dr. Edward Akuffo at its roundtable meeting titled “Why is Canada involved in Mali?” Dr. Akuffo is an Assistant Professor of International Relations in the Department of Political Science at the University of the Fraser Valley. He holds a PhD in International Relations from the University of Alberta, MA in International Relations from Brock University, and BA Political Science from the University of Ghana, Legon. His research is focused on Canada’s security and development policy in Africa, interregional security cooperation, human security and humanitarian law in Africa, and BRIC-Canada relations. His work has been in Global Change, Peace &amp; Security, and African Security Review. He is also the author of the recent book, Canadian Foreign Policy in Africa: Regional Approaches to Peace, Security, and Development (Ashgate). Dr. Akuffo was a fellow of the Canadian Consortium on Human Security (CCHS).&#x0D; &#x0D; &#x0D;

China-Kenya Relations with a Focus on the Maritime Silk Road Initiative (MSRI) within a Perspective of Broad China-Africa Relations

Abstract My article is a critical reflection on China-Kenya Relations with the focus on the Chinese MSRI link with Kenya. Since Kenya gained its nominal political independence in 1963 from Great Britain, it has been involved in complex foreign relations with China. Currently, they enjoy solid bilateral relations, despite some domestic priority shifts and ideological differences among their leaders. From Jomo Kenyatta to Daniel Arap Moi, Mwai Kibaki and Uhuru Kenyatta, Kenya-China relations have been growing. The Forum on China Africa Cooperation. Within FOCAC, a collective, pragmatic consultancy and dialogue scheme was established. There have been more than 80 Chinese development projects in Kenya, ranging from the provision of grants to the building of infrastructures and concessional loans. This essay reflects, using the geopolitics critique of neo-realism supported by historical structuralism and multipolarity paradigms, potential gains of the MSRI within Kenya vision of 2030 (Ruwaza ya Kenya). What and how would Kenya gain from this initiative, beyond the existing relations? What kind of partnership will develop out of MSRI, which can support African regional needs, exigencies of practices of democracy and those of sustainable development, and environmental parameters? I propose a multipolar perspective as a new theoretical ground to address the above questions.

China's cooperation in Africa in the area of physical connectivity infrastructure. The case of the Mombasa-Nairobi railway line

In the 21st century, China proposes a cooperation scheme with its own characteristics. In relation to the cooperation projects that China has been carrying out in the African continent, an exponential growth of infrastructure works was observed that has contributed to the improvement of the socio-economic conditions of Africa. In this context, it is worth asking, what distinctive characteristics does Chinese cooperation in infrastructure have that makes it so attractive to African countries? For the purpose of answering this question, we propose to analyse the link that Beijing has established with the African countries, specifying the characteristics its cooperation scheme presents. Likewise, the priority areas around which cooperation projects are directed and their financing modality are investigated. Secondly, we consider the construction of one of the sections of the railway in Kenya (Mombasa-Nairobi project) under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) as a typical case of China's infrastructure cooperation in an African country.

Exploring the Challenges and Possibilities of Pan African International Police Cooperation

In the promotion of global peace and security, police cooperation is considered one of the major pillars. This exploratory qualitative study focuses on the possibilities and challenges that should be overcome in the quest to practicalize the implementation of security policies and other legal instruments relating to police cooperation and collaboration in Africa. Twenty-five top police officers and other security experts in Ghana were selected as participants using snowball approach. The participants were interviewed for their views on international police cooperation focusing on cooperation among the various police forces in Africa. The outcome of the study revealed that the major challenges include financial constraints, language barriers, political interference, and problems associated with information technology systems. Recommendations made to overcome most of the challenges include strengthening the African Union Police (AFRIPOL), intelligence sharing with the aid of advanced information technology, and promoting research on police effectiveness on the African continent.

Alternative South–South development collaboration? The role of China in the Coega Special Economic Zone in South Africa

SummaryAid, in the form of financial aid and investment, has become increasingly prevalent in both bilateral and multilateral partnerships in the BRICS. In Africa, the Forum on China–Africa Cooperation provides the official framings for forms of development assistance to the continent, with financial forms of aid available through the New Development Bank and the China–Africa Development Bank (CADFund). This article explores how Chinese international development assistance has influenced South Africa's economic growth and development strategies and is reshaping South Africa as “gateway” to Africa and continental leader. Special economic zones (SEZs) have become a prioritised form of BRICS development collaboration particularly in terms of Chinese trade and investment expansionism into Africa through South Africa. Chinese international development assistance and foreign direct investment in South Africa in particular are very notable and have been strengthened during the Chinese official state visit prior to the Johannesburg BRICS Summit in 2018. The article critically analyses the development policy discourse on BRICS spearheading an alternative model of South–South international cooperation by examining the Coega SEZ in South Africa, hailed as the most SEZ in Africa. The article critically examines the development alternative potential of the Coega SEZ.

Peasants’ Calculation Capacities and Measurement Behaviors in Rural Agricultural Markets of China and Cote d’Ivoire: Implications for Technology Adoption and Rural Development

Peasants’ calculation capacities (PCC) and measurement behaviors can enable the development of knowledge economy and technological exchanges. This study is based on critical observations made by analysis of Chinese and Ivorian rural markets to understand measurement system as a foundation of development of economic knowledge, science, and technology. A total of 167 rural people from China and Cote d’Ivoire were interviewed using a simple random sampling method through valid and reliable means. Using the univariate statistics, we summarized the data to statistically describe Chinese and Ivorian rural traders. The multiple linear regression model was used to examine the impact of different explanatory variables on peasants’ calculating capacities. From the independent two samples t-test, we statistically examined the difference between the calculation capacities of Chinese and Ivorian rural traders. Analysis of the data from China and Cote d’Ivoire showed that 76% of Chinese rural traders were using traditional or modern weighing balance compared to only 24% in Cote d’Ivoire. Modern or traditional weighing balance was popular only with traders or wholesalers dealing with bulk commodities, or traders with expensive products in the case of Cote d’Ivoire. Our findings also depict that the calculation capacities of Chinese rural traders are higher than Ivorian (p-value &lt; 0.001). Experience was found to be the most effective factors for the estimation of PCC among Chinese and Ivorian rural traders. Together, these results significantly expand the knowledge, economy, and technology adoption issues in the context of China and Cote d’Ivoire. Thus, our analyses provide useful insights for policymakers, rural traders, advisers, for decision making and agricultural extension services in these two countries, particularly for China–Africa cooperation.

Germany’s Higher Education Cooperation in Africa between Aid and Trade

ZEP : Zeitschrift fur internationale Bildungsforschung und Entwicklungspadagogik 42 (2019) 2, S. 4-10 Padagogische Teildisziplin: Hochschulforschung und Hochschuldidaktik;

The cooperative movement in South Africa: Can financial cooperatives become sustainable enterprises?

AbstractThe co‐operative movement in South Africa came a long way, but the results of such a long revolution are yet to be seen despite an enabling legislative environment and government incentives which increased their formation from 4,000 in 2004 to 132,000 in 2016. The sustainability of these cooperatives outside government grants is very doubtful, with most of them just appearing on paper without any meaningful economic activity happening on the ground. For cooperatives to be sustainable, they need to work toward full implementation of the cooperative movement principles and values through the bottom‐up approach to cooperative formation by reducing their overdependence on the state. Financial cooperatives in South Africa can become sustainable in their role of addressing the financial market failure at the grassroots as the majority of the population, including the working class, are using informal financial schemes based on social ties as sources of their financial services. Financial cooperatives have a long history as a grassroots movement that has played an important role in addressing socioeconomic challenges facing the marginalized communities around the world in a more sustainable way.