China in Africa: Agricultural Development Assistance and Food Security

This thesis engages with the contested social phenomenon of China in Africa. The phenomenon is a subject of intense debate especially since November 2006 when the first Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) Summit was held in Beijing. Controversy continues to persist especially about the motives inciting China to deepen its cooperative relations as well as with regard to the effects of Chinese investment and aid, allegedly benefitting the socio-economic development of China and Africa alike. China's activities in Africa's agricultural sector in particular are a subject of interest, as the mainland actor's activities bring to the fore perceptions on both Chinese expertise and know-how in agriculture and development on one hand and Chinese state businesses' self-interested and controversial practices on the other. How should we understand China's enhanced presence in Africa's agriculture? A review of the literature on the topic reveals both useful hints and gaps. By investigating...Show moreThis thesis engages with the contested social phenomenon of China in Africa. The phenomenon is a subject of intense debate especially since November 2006 when the first Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) Summit was held in Beijing. Controversy continues to persist especially about the motives inciting China to deepen its cooperative relations as well as with regard to the effects of Chinese investment and aid, allegedly benefitting the socio-economic development of China and Africa alike. China's activities in Africa's agricultural sector in particular are a subject of interest, as the mainland actor's activities bring to the fore perceptions on both Chinese expertise and know-how in agriculture and development on one hand and Chinese state businesses' self-interested and controversial practices on the other. How should we understand China's enhanced presence in Africa's agriculture? A review of the literature on the topic reveals both useful hints and gaps. By investigating the impact of China's agricultural development package on food security this thesis engages with this debate. In doing so, this thesis not only highlights the complex relationship between agricultural development and food security, a matter of urgent practical concern but also contributes to the growing literature published on Southern development partners, in particular, China. The findings of this thesis indicate that China's agricultural development package holds significant potential to develop Africa's agriculture as well as to enhance food security. In theory and on first sight, China's enhanced presence in Africa's agriculture thus seems to be a positive development. Nevertheless, this research also evidences vested interests and significant implementation problems that might reverse this positive first assessment in the long-run. Consequently, this thesis outlines areas for further research, in particular field studies that are essential to comprehensively understand this subject matter.Show less

Leiden University Student Repository

Documents

In Collections

China in Africa: Agricultural Development Assistance and Food Security