Chinese Migrants and Africa's Development

Reviews / Votes

Chinese Migrants and African Development provides a thoughtful, richly informed and theoretically drawn assessment of a complex relationship in flux. The authors do a remarkable job of unpacking the array of actors and differing contexts that shape the engagement between Chinese migrants and African communities. An important contribution to the burgeoning field. * Chris Alden, associate professor of international relations, London School of Economics and Political Science * The discussion on China in Africa has for too long been dominated by stereotypes and misleading dichotomies. This book is one of the rare studies exploring real Chinese-African interactions, on the ground; it adds a welcome dimension, bringing aspects of this interaction to life. * Henning Melber, director emeritus, Dag Hammarskjoeld Foundation * This timely scholarly contribution to the evolving discourse on China-Africa relations puts centre stage the urgent need to "build bridges" between Chinese and African citizens through cross-cultural understanding. * Professor Fantu Cheru, senior researcher of the African Studies Centre, Leiden * Much is made, very carelessly and generally, of the "Chinese" in Africa. However, Africa is fifty-four separate states, each of great complexity; the "Chinese" presence is equally complex and can be staggeringly different from place to place and historical epoch to epoch. The authors have performed a huge service with this book, distinguishing groups, rationales and debates, to overcome previous, appallingly reductionist narratives. * Stephen Chan, School of Oriental and African Studies * With a multi-scalar approach, connecting the global, the national and the local; the application of theories of intersectionality and cosmopolitanism; and examples from their in-depth research, the authors help us to understand the complexities and nuances of Chinese migrant engagements with Africans and their impact on Africa's development. This is an invaluable contribution; I wish I'd written it first! * Yoon Jung Park, associate professor, African Studies Program, Georgetown University *