Introduction
One of the many byproducts of globalization has been the surge of free trade agreements, bilateral trade agreements, and regional trade agreements signed internationally as markets respond to increased global demand. Despite China and Nigeria signing bilateral trade agreements, it is clear that China has benefitted more from this relationship than has Nigeria, at least in the short-run. If Nigeria is to increase its economic development and decrease corruption amongst the political elite, promote good governance and effective monetary policies, it would be able to use the current influx of Chinese money from oil revenue to develop into a hub for numerous foreign investors venturing into the African market. In this paper we examine whether the association between these two countries should be considered neo-colonial exploitation by a global super power or a mutually beneficial relationship for emerging economies based on vital commodities such as crude oil.
History of the Chinese-Nigerian Relationship
Beginning in the early 1950s and extending into the 1970s, China ventured into the African continent primarily as a promoter of Maoist-Socialist teachings and command economics towards nascent governments. In 1971, China and Nigeria forged diplomatic relations that eventually culminated into permanent bilateral trade agreements and investments. However, it was not until the 1990s that China returned--as a foreign direct investor--intent on investing in projects that would exploit the continent’s wealth of natural resources for exports, its abundant natural resource reserves, and the diplomatic leverage it would gain from forging strategic partnerships. Beginning in the late 1960s and continuing until the late 1990s...
... middle of paper ...
... of Democratization. Ibadan: Institut français de recherche en Afrique, 2001. (pp. 259-287) Web. .
“Special Economic Zones”. Britannica: Academic Edition : Web. 20 March 2014. http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/558530/special-economic-zone-SEZ
Udeala, Samuel Onuoha. “Nigeria-China Economic Relations Under the South-South Cooperation”. African Journal of International Affairs, Vol. 13, Numbers 1&2, pp. 61-88, 2013.
Wagner, Daniel and Giorgio Cafiero. “China and Nigeria: Neo-Colonialism, South-South Solidarity, or Both?”. The World Post. 19 July 2013. Web. 20 Feb. 2014. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/daniel-wagner/china-and-nigeria-neocolo_b_3624204.html
Waters Jr., Robert Anthony. “Historical Dictionary of United States-Africa Relations”. Lanham, MD: Scarecrow Press, 2009. Electronic (Print)
During the late 1950?s and early 1960?s, many African nations were struggling for their independence from Europe. In ?Down at the Cross,? James Baldwin relates this struggle to that of blacks in the United States during the same time period, and there are far more similarities than Baldwin mentions. Although this comparison offers hope, demonstrating the power of blacks over white oppressors, the ongoing European presence in Africa is a painful reminder that independence and freedom are not complete.
Mazrui, Ali A. "The Re-Invention of Africa: Edward Said, V. Y. Mudimbe, and Beyond." Research in African Literatures 36, no. 3 (Autumn 2005): 68-82.
One of Kingsolver’s plot ideas was American Missionaries of the 1960’s, which occupied African soil in order to aid African nations from rival countries, poor economical development and paganism. Relations between African leaders and the President of t...
Bearing in mind that the threat of China’s dependency on imports of natural resources has the potential to threaten the official ideology of Confucianism, the real threat is to the interests of the state and the Communist Party of China, because the future of the party and stability of the country is dependent on the continued growth of the Chinese economy. Maintaining the flow of raw materials is the main objective of the PRC because without them the economic engine of the China would be at a stand still, which has the potential to be seen by the people of China as a weakness and flaws in the current governing system. China should continue developing trade relations and international connections because the PRC has been remarkably successful in creating a network of countries who will be loyal in business and political reform. China has has a strategic focus on building relations with nations whom America is not keen on. This has also perpetuated the realization the the Chinese system of governance provides a second option to the ‘Western Consensus’, as a viable means for successful economic growth coupled with strict government control. China must operate multilaterally to continue the trajectory of relation and loyalty building in other countries. This will assist china with the key pillar goals of, building a comprehensive national power; advance incrementally in order to consolidate a position of strength, and maintaining stability, and with the objective that China will be in the position to continue imports of raw material to Chinese industry in the event of a sea trade embargo from opposition countries like the United...
In this section, I will provide a brief history of U.S. military involvement on the African continent, starting with the Barbary Wars and working up through the current date. This historical documentation will highlight the change in the role the United States has played in Africa [post 9-11???]. Prior to 9-11, the United States’ interactions were mainly [capture summary here]. Since [?], however, the continent has faced a marked increase in violent extremism and terrorism leading the United States to partner with many African nations in counterterrorism initiatives. These, and other initiatives, mean an increasing number U.S. service members are deploying to Africa to take part in training, humanitarian issues and military operations. These military activities are run by United States African Command, a recently created combatant command.
A. Adu Boahen's African Perspectives on Colonialism neatly classifies African responses to European colonialism during both phases of invasion and occupation during the 19th century with precise labels according to their nature or time period. However, the reactions can also be loosely grouped into two diametric characterizations: peaceful and violent. Although creating this dichotomy seems a gross generalization and oversimplification of the colonial African experience, it more importantly allows for a different perspective- one that exposes the overwhelming success of the typically peaceful or pacifist reaction in contrast to the little gain and large losses of the violent response.
With Europe in control, “the policies of the governing powers redirected all African trade to the international export market. Thus today, there is little in the way of inter-African trade, and the pattern of economic dependence continues.” Europeans exported most of the resources in Africa cheaply and sold them costly, which benefited them, but many Africans worked overtime and were not treated with care.
It is thought-provoking, in the sense that Africa’s need for foreign created a race to the bottom, much like what Pietra Rivoli described in The Travels of a T-Shirt in the Global Economy. Due to some African states’ reliance on foreign aid in order to mine and profit on their resources, they allow business standards to be lowered and for Chinese firms to tip the contracts moresoever in the favor of Chinese firms. This lowers the potential earnings of African states by lowering royalty rates, for example. Additionally, Burgis’ research was thorough and transparent. When he did not receive a response or if his questions were dodged, he made it obvious to the readers. Sure, some could view this book as too anecdotal to be used as a credible source of Africa’s situation. However, this is due to the nature of the system Burgis is writing about; after all, they are shadow states for a reason. Some readers will be saddened by this text, others angry, most curious to learn more, but above all, everyone will be intellectually stimulated and
The "DBQ Project" What Is the Driving Force Behind European Imperialism in Africa? (2012): 257. pp. 177-177. Print.
Zhang, Jianhong, Arjen van Witteloostuijn, and J. Paul Elhorst. "China's Politics and Bilateral Trade Linkages." Asian Journal of Political Science 19.1 (2011): 25-47. Academic Search Premier. Web. 13 Dec. 2013.
Khapoya, Vincent B. The African Experience: An Introduction. 4th ed. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall, 1998. Print.
The Instability of China–US Relations", The Chinese Journal of International Politics 3, no. 3 (2010): 263-292, http://cjip.oxfordjournals.org/content/3/3/263.
Africa’s struggle to maintain their sovereignty amidst the encroaching Europeans is as much a psychological battle as it is an economic and political one. The spillover effects the system of racial superiority had on the African continent fractured ...
The New Imperialism and the Scramble for Africa 1880-1914. Jeff Taylor, n.d. Web. 19 Mar. 2014.
China has also expanded their trading industries with countries such as South Korea, Japan, Taiwan, ASEAN, India, Russia and Hong Kong. This has not satisfied the Chinese greed for income as they also export and import goods to American countries, name...