China in Africa: An African-Centered Strategy for Assessing an Expanding Political and Economic Relationship.

As Chinese expansion grows stronger in Africa, debates about the nature and outcomes of the evolving political and economic relationship have been polarized. The literature on this topic can be divided into two groups: the gloomy Greek Cassandras (mostly Western scholars and think tanks), who worry that China is the new colonizer and the optimists (mostly Chinese scholars) who believe that China is the next big thing for Africa. Missing in these debates is an African-centered strategy for advancing scholarship in this growing relationship. For example, how can we organize our ideas and information in such a way that addresses our developmental needs? Specifically, what should be the evaluation criteria for assessing this relationship? There is certainly no one right way of doing this; any guide, like a lens, will promote some features while distorting others. With this said, this paper will attempt to provide a framework of analysis that emphasizes how this relationship contributes to the restriction or promotion of African trade and governance institutions. Thus this paper is in pursuit of a market and governance criteria of analysis in framing an African-centered approach to addressing Chinese influence in Africa. ..PAT.-Unpublished Manuscript [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]