An overview of China’s success in Africa: The rise of China as a Neocolonial threat or a Win-Win development opportunity?

This research endeavors to be a theoretical dissertation that consolidates and summarizes various previous projects and papers authored by esteemed scholars and witnesses of the Sino-African relationship phenomenon. The title highlights the paradox of perceiving China as a successful partner in Africa while simultaneously avoiding, or at the very least, minimizing the perspective of the 'Western reader'. This perspective commonly characterizes China's involvement in African countries as 'an invasion for resource exploitation and the imposition of social, political, and economic dominance'. Essentially, this study aims to propose cognitive methods for developing an independent viewpoint without prejudiced support toward any particular stance. The inspiration behind this research stems from the classical decolonial concept of the 'locus of enunciation'. As explained by Grosfoguel (2007), this expression refers to both the geopolitical and body-political position of the subject engaging in discourse. It is important to take into consideration while studying and reading essays the concept that emphasizes the significance of understanding the impact of one's positionality on knowledge production and interpretation. This element has guided my selection of sources, as I have been mindful of the author's perspective. Interestingly, currently, there is a scarcity of Chinese authors who bravely explore the dynamics of this phenomenon or who have explored it without opening its accessibility to international academic audiences. I have reached this conclusion partly due to the insights bestowed upon me by the Chinese director of the Confucius Institute in Padua. In contrast, a plethora of African authors have felt empowered to address this topic, largely motivated by a sense of belonging and patriotism. The findings indicate that classifying this form of South-South cooperation as neocolonialism is contingent upon the perspectives through which it is analysed. From the standpoint of a Chinese individual, relocating their business to Africa represents a lucrative opportunity, particularly when accompanied by a local partner who alleviates the language and bureaucratic barriers. Conversely, the viewpoint of an African is multifaceted and is influenced by the specific country of origin. For example, a Zambian would view Chinese companies favourably due to their introduction of new infrastructures and improved societal well-being. However, this is not the case for a Malian, where China is tantamount to exploitation and corruption. Finally, an Italian perspective may embrace both viewpoints, potentially influenced by cultural heritage, open-mindedness, and the desire/initiative to study this phenomenon.