Replication files for China in Africa: More Business-as-usual than Bogeyman, Bond Villain, or Benefactor

Contemporary US foreign policy rhetoric is replete with references to the “China challenge.” On the African continent in particular, China has been accused of “debt trap diplomacy,” or at the very least being caught up in the “new scramble for Africa.” While China’s growing influence capacity on the African continent in recent decades is undeniable, what should we make of it? Despite its frequent portrayal as a bogeyman or Bond villain, the empirical examination of China’s observed trade, investment, and other engagement patterns in Africa relative to predictions by econometric models suggests China is more businessman than anything else. Of course, this does not make China a benefactor, as some PRC spokespeople have argued. But where China’s geopolitical influence strategy has seemed geared toward expanding its reach across Africa and challenging US and European interests, international relations theory tells us their actions are business-as-usual rather than an exception to the rule. These findings have two important implications for US foreign policy. First, they suggest that framing China’s actions in Africa as uniquely malevolent is largely an act of “othering” or “enemization” – unhelpful framing devices that increase the risk of conflict. Second, they tell us that if the US wishes to better compete with China in Africa, rather than emphasizing ideology or shared values, American policymakers need to offer Africans a better deal.