China In Africa And Reshaping Global Governance

Since the end of the Cold War, the debate on global governance has been registering a new impetus. This new situation is. among other things, being boosted by the raise of globalization of world affairs and the increasing role of non-state actors. While the Westerns have been dominating the debate on global governance, the raise of China offers a new opportunity for research. Giving priority to development itself rather than political reforms first, the Chinese approach to global governance has proven to be different from the West. This thesis used the Chinese engagement in the construction sector in Angola, Nigeria and Mozambique to explain how Chinese engagement is different and also how is it contributing to the development of these African states. The thesis also criticizes the common wisdom on China's engagement in Africa when many scholars tend to focus solely on China's interest in African resources. In fact, using a broader analysis, the thesis proves that China's interest in Africa goes far beyond oil, including isolating Taiwan, to expand China's markets, to export capital, and also to promote development according to the Chinese way:with no interference. China's engagement in Africa contributes to reduce the gap between rich and poor countries, bringing more stability to the world. That is China's contribution to global governance.Chapter 1 Introduction presents the main argument of the thesis, the methodology applied, and gives a brief contextualization of the problem under research. Justifying the reason behind Angola. Nigeria and Mozambique were chosen as case studies, this thesis argues that both Angola and Nigeria are two of the most important oil rich African countries supplying China, which supports the arguments of the critics behind China's engagement in Africa, when some scholars only focus in oil to justify Beijing's new interest in Africa.Differently, Mozambique was chosen to prove that the previous perspective is limited. China is in African not only for oil. In fact, if oil was the main reason behind China's engagement, how could it be justified that China is now increasing its FDI. credit loans and also aid to a country like Mozambique, which is a non oil rich country.Regarding the focus in the infrastructural sector, this thesis argues that it was chosen because of its huge impact on Sino-African relations. For both oil rich and non-oil rich countries, the intervention of Chinese actors (banks, companies and government) increases continuously.Chapter 2 Theoretical framework presents the debate on global governance. showing the main distinctions between USA and China; it gives a comparison on how both states deal with the debate on global governance and how each one's approach is viewed within the recommendations of the Commission on Global Governance (CGG).While the United States, with their leading position within the international system, have been following an militarist, ambiguous and unilateral foreign policy, leading to the critics from the developing countries regarding the debate on global governance. The People's Republic of China is more inclusive and respecting the sovereignty of other states. Even though it is now the second largest economy in the world. Chinese approach on global governance has not been self-centered, but instead it is more inclusive. It is this approach that the thesis used to analyze in the following chapters how does China lead with other states (especially in Africa) and how does such behavior fit within China's own approach on the debate of global governance.Chapter 3 On case study 1,"Angola Model:A Win-Win Partnership", the author analyzes China's engagement in the Angolan infrastructural sector. After presenting a brief historical review on Sino-Angolan relations, the thesis proves that Chinese investments in that sector are increasing continuously. Mostly backed by oil supplies, Chinese credit lines targeted to improve the local infrastructure. After decades of war, Angola has seen China as a strategic partner to reduce its infrastructural needs, especially due to the Chinese competitiveness in prices, and also due to the facilities of financial support for the projects, thus making it easier for the African country to develop without submitting itself to the traditional donors. Chapter 4 On case study 2, "Sino-Nigerian Relations", the thesis again confirms the continuous interest from Chinese actors to access local energetic resources. While boosting its participation in the local oil market, Chinese companies are also penetrating other spheres of Nigeria's economy. In the process, unlike most other foreign actors in the country, they are investing in fixed assets, such as refineries and factories, with the intention of developing a long-term economic relationship. In the same perspective, Sino-Nigerian bilateral trade is increasing from both sides, making it a promising relationship.Chapter 5 On case study 3, "Sino-Mozambican Cooperation:Broadening the Scope of China's Engagement in Africa", the thesis aimed to prove that it is not enough to explain China's engagement in Africa only by focusing in energetic resources. Even though it is a non-oil rich country, Mozambique is being targeted by many Chinese projects in infrastructure. The reasons behind such interest from China are far beyond accessing oil. There is a need of accessing markets, exporting capital, isolating Taiwan, conquering political support in international organizations, and also to export the traditional Chinese way of development, which focus first on economic development and puts political reforms in second.Chapter 6 Conclusion and policy suggestions chapter brings the final findings of the essay, arguing that China's foreign policy seems more close to the suggestions of the CGG and that fact can be proven by the analysis of the patterns of China's engagement in Africa in the construction sector. By increasing its investments on this sector of African markets. China not only improves local infrastructure and development but it also develops its own industry; by so doing, China contributes to world development.