Africa returning East : can the China development model travel to Africa?

Africa is returning to the strategic agenda of both old and new powers. A number of new opportunities and alarming missteps will be possible in the coming decades. Since the fall of the Berlin Wall, the neo-liberal agenda has been unchallenged allowing little flexibility for developing countries to alter their macroeconomic policies and closely coupled development agenda. However, the successes of economies to the east of Africa are providing an alternative to following the prescriptions and rules set by the 'Western' economies. Because of these geopolitical changes and Africa's continued socio-economic problems, the policies of China and the surrounding economies are gaining attention. Africa is no longer completely reliant on trade and aid from the predominant powers and the rise of the Indian Ocean and Asian economies is loosening the grip and associated consequences of following (or not following) predetermined economic policies. These changes in the international order lead to the central purpose of this thesis, which is to explore the influence of China's development model in Africa. This thesis will argue that African governments are beginning to challenge the 'Washington Consensus' by shifting towards a model based on China's development gains. However, the political economy of African countries does not support a complete adoption of China's socialist, state-centric model. The null would suggest African governments are committed to a 'Washington Consensus' defined development model, however the evidence suggest the contrary.

Grantor dc:publisher.institution

Department of Political Studies

Year dc:date.issued

2005

Author dc:creator

• Hawn, Josh

Language dc:language.iso

eng

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/11427/8641

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:open.uct.ac.za:11427/8641