Description: In contemporary discourse on China-Africa relations, there are three differing perspectives. On one hand Sino-pessimists view China as a giant, feeding on Africa's resources to fuel its own industrialization. On the other hand, Sino-optimists see China as a benevolent state capable of 'developing' the continent. In the middle sit the Sino-pragmatists who remain unsure of what Africa might gain from China-Africa relations. This book introduces a regional approach to the study of China-Africa relations by focusing on Eastern and Southern Africa; and it puts forward a disciplinary framework - disciplinary in both senses of the term - for interrogating the burgeoning literature about China-Africa relations by conceptualizing the three schools of thought mentioned above.
Review Quotes: 'With a regional focus on Eastern Africa (plus Madagascar), this book provides deeper analysis; attention to history; a focus on the role of Africa's leaders and domestic politics; and a keen sense of China's shifting strategies over time and across different countries. A must-read for anyone hoping to understand the complexities and nuances of China-Africa relations.' Yoon Jung Park, Howard University, USA and Rhodes University, South Africa 'Either through bilateral or multilateral relations, China's Africa diplomacy reflects the complexity and intrigue of power dynamics. Based on a regional perspective, this book examines specific China-Africa relations, provides an enriched critical and testable knowledge, and projects the shifting balance within the global power structure. This is an impressive collection which will take the readers beyond fixed challenges and the rhetoric associated with China-Africa relations.' Tukumbi Lumumba-Kasongo, Wells College, Cornell University and Suffolk University, USA 'Adem's volume greatly contributes to the existent literature and is recommended to everyone interested in the PRC's overall engagement with Africa and particular national governments likewise. ... The various methodologies used in these articles shed light on the subject matter from several angles and underlines its complexity. China's Diplomacy in Eastern and Southern Africa does not only deliver in-depth analyses on China-Africa relations but also invites scholars to review the discourse on how we perceive new developments initiated by the encounters of Chinese and Africans.' East Asia Integration Review