China and Post-Millennium African Economic Development Strategy as a Non-Zero-Sum-Game

Authors

Paul Milkias, Concordia University, Montreal, CanadaFollow

Abstract

This paper will probe Africa's and China’s historical trajectory regarding economic development. It analyzes China's and Africa's creative leap, particularly since the millennium, into a new paradigm, a new way of economic relationship totally different from that with the West. The focus is on analyzing China’s heavy economic investment in Africa based on the assumption that the relationship is mutually beneficial rather than being exploitative as some scholars suggest. The hypothesis draws from Decision Theory’s concept of a Zero-Sum Game. It is understood that in a two partnered non-zero sum game theory, one partner’s gain or loss does not necessarily result in the other partner’s loss or gain. In other words, a non-zero-sum game depicts the winnings and losses of all partners as not adding up to zero but rather as a win-win deal for both. The same scenario explains China’s heavy involvement in contemporary African economic development and the latter’s ready acceptance of the Middle Kingdom’s gargantuan investment ventures in Sub-Sahara Africa that pales those of former colonial countries and all highly developed democratic regimes of the West. This paper provides data for Chinese investment in Africa and its concomitant spinoffs for both stake holders. It highlights the economic development gains in Sub-Sahara Africa since the millennium, how much of it was spawned by China’s heavy investment, and what China expects in return. It also draws attention to great power rivalries that have ruffled the feathers of former colonial powers and other Western countries that construe the entire enterprise as a Sino-imperialist venture. The paper then tries to fetter out the cost-benefit to both partners in terms of Chinese investment in contrast to Beijing’s dire need for Africa’s abundant natural resources to keep running its unprecedented growth that has already made it the largest global economy purchasing power parity (ppp) wise, surpassing what had been hitherto an unchallenged economic powerhouse, the United States of America.

Recommended Citation

Milkias, Paul (2016) "China and Post-Millennium African Economic Development Strategy as a Non-Zero-Sum-Game," International Journal of African Development: Vol. 4: Iss. 1, Article 4.
Available at: https://scholarworks.wmich.edu/ijad/vol4/iss1/4