Many scholars today are occupied with China’s engagements with Africa, as China is slowly changing the rules of development. One of the largest nations it is interacting with today is Kenya, and...Show moreMany scholars today are occupied with China’s engagements with Africa, as China is slowly changing the rules of development. One of the largest nations it is interacting with today is Kenya, and this thesis will apply three theories in international relations to the case of economic development under Chinese investments in Kenya: the theories of Wallerstein, Alden and Nurkse which elaborate on global, regional, and national engagement with developing economies respectively. The main objective of this thesis is to identify and illustrate the effects of China’s financial support and investments in Kenya’s economy. China’s rhetoric of mutually beneficial cooperation reflects, at least theoretically, its benevolence and underlying focus on development. China’s underlying economic and diplomatic motivations will be discussed, followed by expounding on the presence of Chinese businesses in Kenya, the Chinese One Belt, One Road initiative, and Kenya’s Vision 2030. The Kenyan government should be careful to keep the economic growth in its own hands by not relying too much on Chinese credit loans and investments, but focus at generating its own capital.Show less
This thesis researches if Wallerstein's world-systems theory is still able to explain today's global order, or if it is outdated. In other words, does the world-systems theory still apply to today...Show moreThis thesis researches if Wallerstein's world-systems theory is still able to explain today's global order, or if it is outdated. In other words, does the world-systems theory still apply to today's world, or does it need restructuring? Do we even need an entirely new framework to explain global order? In order to answer this question and in order to test the theory, the thesis is based on the specific case study of U.S. - Brazil trade relations between 2001 and 2014.Show less
