China in Sub-Saharan Africa (Thesis Sample)

China in Sub-Saharan Africa Thesis
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Introduction
The China model's strategy is implemented to employ an authoritarian one-party state in creating market capitalism and prioritizing political stability. The model in question is distinguished by a prominent state presence in the economy, prioritization of infrastructure advancement, and significant governmental regulation of critical sectors. The China model has demonstrated substantial efficacy in fostering economic expansion and improvement in China. As such, there is a mounting curiosity regarding its potential implementation in other areas, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa (Eberhard et al., 2017). Sub-Saharan Africa has been grappling with issues of poverty, underdevelopment, and limited resource accessibility for a considerable period.
Consequently, the region has garnered attention as a recipient of external investment and developmental aid from various nations, including China (Yanne Sylvaire et al., 2022). Over the recent decades, the Chinese government has made significant Teleco in Sub-Saharan Africa, including financing major infrastructure projects, providing loans and grants, and establishing trade partnerships with African nations. This study investigates the impact of the China model on the progress of Sub-Saharan Africa and scrutinizes the advantages and obstacles it entails for the region.
Research question:
What are the impact and benefits of the China model on the development of Sub-Saharan Africa, and how is its influence growing in the region?
Relevance of the Study
The study of the impact of the China model on Sub-Saharan Africa through addressing these research issues is of significant relevance for several reasons. First, Chinese investment and development aid can substantially influence the region's economic growth and development (Donou-Adonsou & Lim, 2018, p. 63). Sub-Saharan Africa has long suffered from poverty, underdevelopment, and a lack of access to resources. Thus, policymakers and development professionals in Sub-Saharan Africa must comprehend the advantages and difficulties of the China model. Second, in light of the current discussion around the most successful development strategies for the area, research on the impact of the China model on Sub-Saharan Africa is essential. Although the Western development model has long been the most popular, interest in other models is rising, especially those that stress the significance of state-led growth and infrastructure investment. One such option is the China model, and by looking at how it has been implemented in Sub-Saharan Africa, we may learn more about its potential efficacy (Sparks, 2011).
Thirdly, given the expanding geopolitical power of China in the area, research on the impact of the Chinese model on Sub-Saharan Africa is essential. China has risen to prominence in Sub-Saharan Africa in recent years, and its investments and development aid have the power to influence the political and economic climate of the continent (Yanne Sylvaire et al., 2022). Thus, politicians, academics, and practitioners must comprehend the ramifications of the China model's growing impact in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Literature Review
Several studies examine China's multilateral relations with sub-Saharan countries, such as Ethiopia, Nigeria, Kenya, and other African countries. The term China model has slowly become a source of policy to help various aspects of development in Africa in recent decades. Salvatore (2020) questions whether sub-Saharan Africa can adopt China's development strategy. He claims that many developing nations have copied China's rapid economic growth over the past forty years, with Africa being one of these areas. However, he contends that this is because proponents of the Chinese model view China's rapid growth as more akin to "overstretched economic growth led by an authoritarian state." (Zhao, 2017). Chinese models, the first phase is to replicate the success factors of liberal economic policies by opening up a large portion of the economy to foreign and domestic investment. The second step is to give the ruling party firm control over every decision made by the government. The Chinese model is also not a workable development strategy for several African nations needing strong state structures. Salvatore also highlights concerns about the Chinese approach to African development, pointing out that it "increasingly resembles the Western neo-colonial trade model" (Obeng-Odoom 2020, p174), which suggests that it tends to weaken state capacity. Sub-Saharan African nations must be powerful enough to take on China to utilize the Chinese model to achieve truly rapid development.
The Chinese model, with its guiding principles and fundamental values, is implemented within the framework of a liberal international order, according to OBERT (2020), who contends that there is no specific description of the Chinese model. The Chinese development model has inspired African political elites to select and learn from it in a way that is in the interest of African countries, even though the implementation of the Chinese model in Africa has yet to be obstructed. He contends that China has a "buying relationship" with Africa and that while African countries benefit, China has established good political relations with them, "allowing small countries to economically benefit from the relationship with China." (Yan, 2015). China has assisted African political elites in determining the development model that is most appropriate for their nations, as opposed to monopolizing the values and principles of African nations. Thus, for better or worse, the Chinese model and the world's view of the Chinese model have been shaped by African political leaders' strategic reconfiguration and interpretation of the Chinese model.
Adem (2012) refers to Ethiopia's connection with China as "infrastructure supported by foreign teachers" and notes that Ethiopia is one of China's closest allies in sub-Saharan Africa. Malancha contends that China's interest in Africa extends beyond natural resources. Due to China's zero-tariff policy on agricultural exports from developing nations, Ethiopia has benefited and gained knowledge about how to construct vital infrastructure. This has not only aided Ethiopia's agricultural diversification, but it has also improved local employment and competitiveness. Chinese private enterprise private investment has become a significant source of further investment. Ethiopia's economic development due to Chinese investment has shown the value of help to a nation and that there may be a "win-win" outcome for both China and Ethiopia.
According to Jian, Ilan, and Yanan(2014) from Skidmore College, China has recently emerged as a significant source of FDI in the Sub-Saharan region. China's trade and investment harm the SSA region's economy. The research suggests that China's current influence on SSA could be favorable. They contend, however, that because many SMEs only sometimes record their investments and data is not always available, it is impossible to quantify the impact of FDI on growth. As a result, they contend, official data sources must grossly underestimate the magnitude and extent of FDI flows. To examine the effect of FDI in China on SSA, they employ a GMM model and an OLS model. The GMM findings demonstrate that neither FDI inflows from China nor overall net FDI inflows significantly affected GDP growth in SSA countries. We go over probable causes for these insignificant results. For example, the current model ignores the decline in FDI in traditional sectors, the rise in FDI in services, the small share of FDI in each nation's GDP, and the types of sectors in which Chinese FDI is concentrated. Other factors include the fact that Chinese FDI crowds out domestic investment. In contrast to the GMM findings, the OLS and fixed effects estimates indicate that the impact on overall net FDI inflows to SSA is favorable and significant. It has a minimal effect, though
Foreign investment in Africa could have various effects, and Patrick (2019) has studied African perceptions of possible investment destinations. Development of the economy and infrastructure, as well as democratization, are essential impacts. Even compared to other nations, sentiments regarding Chinese politics, US politics, and personal preferences for these forms of government are likely to impact public support for Chinese FDI. Sub-Saharan Africans are more likely to fear or dislike Chinese FDI if they value civil and political rights more than economic, social, and cultural rights. Similarly, people who favor cultural rights more strongly are more likely to have a favorable opinion of Chinese FDI. One of the countries where China has invested the most is Zambia. The formation of the Zambia-China Cooperation Zone resulted from Chinese FDI inflows to Zambia that, as of 2014, totaled more than US$2.6 billion. According to Mupesini (2007), this economic zone has led to investments by more than 500 Chinese businesses in the Zambian economy.
In other words, rights affinity is a crucial predictor of a person's attitudes, and economic forces are the key ones doing so. Sub-Saharan African nations may be more welcoming to Chinese investment due to a combination of factors, including the substantial aid provided by China as well as the fact that the Chinese government never interferes excessively with the ruling party's ability to establish policy, instead always acting in a cooperative and supportive manner. The sound effects of Chinese help will also persuade the populace to favor Chinese investment more.
According to Anastasia (2018), building a solid alliance between...