Rising Influence of China in West Africa: Analysis of the Effects on Economic Development, Governance and Security

摘要

While western countries appear to be gradually turning their back to Africa and looking at the leaders of African countries with much criticism, China is stepping in to increase its involvement with many countries. More specifically, China is becoming actively engaged in West Africa, one of the poorest regions of the world, and one where civil wars are spreading quickly. As China is becoming deeply engaged in that sub-region, what could be the consequences of its influence on the future of West Africa. If certain circles already show their optimism by viewing the new China's Africa policy as the last chance of the continent to get out of its chronic underdevelopment, others see Beijing's economic offensive as the expression of a new colonial adventure from which Africa could possibly suffer more than benefit from. This paper argues that the degree of damaging effects associated with China's influence on a West African country depends on the level of democratic governance reached by that specific country. It also argues that despite popular perceptions, China is still a small player in Africa, compared to the US and the European Union.