Africa Needs Collective Approach to China

13 March 2015

China's relationship with Africa is changing the face of the continent. Thanks to Chinese financing, Africa is rapidly gaining infrastructure. China is also establishing new modes of engagement for other emerging donors, presenting an alternative to European aid. However, the notion that China dictates the terms of this China-Africa relationship still nags and allows narratives such as "China's scramble for Africa" to develop. So how can Africa place itself first in Africa-China relations?

Experts have argued that the key lies in developing a comprehensive and collective strategy for negotiations with China. To do so requires selecting shared issues for collective bargaining in shared forums. These agendas should also inform bilateral negotiations. While China's engagement with bodies like the AU shows that it is willing to move beyond bilateral negotiations, identifying these issues is easier said than done. Frequently the challenges are due to internal African factors. Below, I suggest three possible rallying points. Each presents an opportunity for undertaking collective bargaining and compelling reasons to do so. Each also reveals the complex problems that make it difficult for Africa to present a united front to foreign investors like China.

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