The Silk Road Comes to Africa: Chinese-African Bilateral Investment Treaties and Infrastructure Development in African States

Authors

Nabil Z. OsbornFollow

Abstract

China’s rise as a global economic power has focused the world’s eyes on its economic ventures both at home and abroad. It is little surprise that China’s intensifying economic and political relationship in recent decades with much of Africa has brought about both hope and scrutiny. We observe a phenomenon in which Western leverage and influence on the continent is increasingly supplanted by a new player. However, these changes may not be for worse? Each as members of the Global South, bilateral relations between China and African states present a unique and somewhat novel dynamic in regards to large-scale foreign direct investment. Given the largely contemporary nature and fast-evolving pace of Sino-African relations, few scholars have directly studied how Chinese foreign direct investment has impacted the domestic infrastructure landscape of African states. This study looks at four case studies on specific states in Africa, each with significant levels of Chinese foreign direct investment. It examines the role and extent that foreign direct investment, and antecedent bilateral investment treaties, plays in the the success of development and infrastructure projects domestically. The study concludes that higher levels of foreign direct investment from China is indeed consistent with greater infrastructure progress and success in the given African states, following upon the condition that bilateral investment treaties were signed prior.

Advisor

Lantis, Jeffrey

Department

Political Science

Recommended Citation

Osborn, Nabil Z., "The Silk Road Comes to Africa: Chinese-African Bilateral Investment Treaties and Infrastructure Development in African States" (2020). Senior Independent Study Theses. Paper 11736.
https://openworks.wooster.edu/independentstudy/11736

Disciplines

African Languages and Societies | Chinese Studies | International Business | International Law | International Trade Law | Law and Economics | Law and Politics

Keywords

China, Asia, Africa, Nigeria, Angola, Ethiopia, Tanzania, Foreign Direct Investment, Bilateral Investment Treaty, Trade, Chinese Foreign Policy, Infrastructure, Economic Development

Publication Date

2020

Degree Granted

Bachelor of Arts

Document Type

Senior Independent Study Thesis