Delivering difference? Four neglected issues in China's aid to Africa

Abstract

China's dramatic engagement in the international development landscape in this century has led to a debate on a possible alternative set of development ideology, theory, and practice, raising both hope and concern for the industrialization and revitalization of the Global South. Ideologically, the emerging power has begun as a 'norms maker' to challenge the current North-South donor-recipient relations and the financial and trade dominance behind the scenes. 1 It praises the inherent legitimacy and rationality of South-South Cooperation (SSC), 2 aims at reforms in the established global financial and trade systems, and is creating ‘parallel structures' to counterweigh the West's reluctance to change international institutions. 3 Regarding development theory, both the Chinese government and academia have shown their confidence in exporting China's successful development story to the developing world, purportedly known as the 'China Model'. 4 Infrastructure-led growth, industry parks with a focus on the labour-intensive manufacture, and knowledge transfer (particularly in agriculture) are among the indispensable experiences that have been theorized and that China wishes to promote worldwide