GDEV 3630 - China-Africa Encounters

(SBA-AG)

Spring. 3 credits. Student option grading.

D. Fei.

China-Africa engagement on diplomatic, economic, social, and cultural fronts has grown rapidly over the past three decades. The close encounters have attracted polarized portrayals in media and policy circles. In this course, students will look beyond sweeping claims about China’s role in Africa to gain a critical and nuanced understanding of the complexity and contradictions of Chinese activities and impacts. The key questions discussed in the course include: Who are the Chinese actors arriving in Africa and what are their priorities, resources, and constraints? How do African institutions, social groups, and individuals respond to and interact with these Chinese actors? What are the opportunities and challenges for achieving a more mutually beneficial form of cooperation?

Outcome 1: Critically analyze, beyond controversial headlines, Chinese engagements in Africa.

Outcome 2: Explain the ways in which history and China’s current global rise impact China-Africa engagements.

Outcome 3: Formulate their own educated opinions on relevant China-Africa issues, including but not limited to trade, investment, development finance, labor relations, environmental impacts, and migration.

Outcome 4: Demonstrate their capacity to evaluate and discuss texts, verbally and in written form, as part of a continuing dialogue within and beyond the academic community.

Outcome 5: Analyze secondary materials to conduct analysis of a specific topic in China’s relation with one or more Africa countries, and clearly present arguments based on evidence in written or oral format.