Exploiting Africa by Donovan Chau
Exploiting Africa examines China's role in Algeria, Ghana, and Tanzania from the 1950s to the 1970s. The Chinese arrived in Africa with little fanfare, yet they achieved an active presence that was more pragmatic than revolutionary. Though often couched in ideological rhetoric, Chinese goals in Africa were those of an aspiring world power. China skillfully used its limited diplomatic, intelligence, and economic means to shape events and to exploit its relationships to gain lasting influence on the continent. It is crucial to understand the nature and character of China's historical actions in Africa in order to properly grasp the nation's current and future policies. Rather than merely looking forward, one must look backward to comprehend the true nature of China in Africa.
Donovan Chau's Exploiting Africa makes a valuable and timely contribution to the burgeoning literature on China's involvement in Africa todayIn contrast to most extant accounts, this book demonstrates the link between the involvements of Maoist China on the continent from the 1950s to the 1970s. Although China's Africa policy then was influenced by its ideological orientation, Chau argues convincingly that 'China's meddling' was at a fundamental level pragmatically driven. In the long term, China was seeking to ensure access to Africa's vast mineral resources for its own primarily economic objectives. Chau's arguments are masterfully supported by empirical evidence from three case studies: Algeria, Ghana, and Tanzania." --Edmond J. Keller, research professor of political science, University of California, Los Angeles "Even before China overtook the United States as Africa's biggest trading partner in 2009, the expanding network of economic, political, and military ties that Beijing has cultivated across Africa has been cause for concern by policymakers and analysts in Washington. What many of them overlook, however, is that the recent activity is hardly the first Chinese foray into Africa. Donovan Chau's examination of Communist China's not inconsiderable efforts under Mao Zedong to gain influence in several post-independence African states not only lifts the veil on this little-known period, but also draws some tantalizing clues from the initial strategic engagement as to possible trajectories now that Beijing has emerged as one of the leading actors on the continent at a time when Africa as a whole enjoys both buoyant economic prospects and growing geopolitical importance." --J. Peter Pham, director, Africa Center, Atlantic Council, and editor-in-chief, Journal of the Middle East and Africa "Donovan Chau's informative and often provocative analysis of Sino-African relations, from the 1955 Bandung Conference until the death of Mao Zedong, is a must-read for anyone wanting to understand the rising Asian power's involvement in the continent today. Dispassionate and avoiding polemics, Exploiting Africa engagingly explores the PRC's historical involvement in three case studies. Ultimately, Chau sounds the tocsin concerning Beijing's ongoing geopolitical ambitions in Africa that world leaders will ignore at their own peril." --George L. Simpson, professor of history at High Point University and editor of The Journal of the Middle East and Africa
Donovan C. Chau is an associate professor of political science at California State University, San Bernardino, USA. Educated at Claremont McKenna College, Missouri State University, both USA, and the University of Reading, UK, his teaching and research focus on international politics, particularly in Asia and Africa. Prior to entering academia, Dr. Chau worked as a subject matter expert on U.S. government contracts and as a professional staff member in the U.S. House of Representatives.
| SKU | Unavailable |
| ISBN 13 | 9781612512501 |
| ISBN 10 | 161251250X |
| Title | Exploiting Africa |
| Author | Donovan Chau |
| Condition | Unavailable |
| Binding Type | Hardback |
| Publisher | Naval Institute Press |
| Year published | 2014-05-29 |
| Number of pages | 224 |
| Cover note | Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary. |
| Note | Unavailable |