China Local/Global: Africa

About the Project

A dominant narrative, especially in Washington, is that China extends its global influence by exporting its developmental model and imposing it on other countries. But China also extends its influence by working through local actors and institutions while adapting and assimilating local and traditional forms, norms, and practices. With the generous support of the Ford Foundation, Carnegie has launched an innovative body of research on Chinese engagement in seven regions of the world—Africa, Central Asia, Latin America, the Middle East and North Africa, the Pacific, South Asia, and Southeast Asia—exploring these adaptive Chinese strategies that work within local realities and are mostly ignored by Western policymakers.

paper
African Media Cultures and Chinese Public Relations Strategies in Kenya and Ethiopia

Differing Kenyan and Ethiopian journalism norms have fundamentally shaped the strategies and local relationships of three Chinese firms contracted to build railways in Africa.

  • Hangwei Li
  • Yuan Wang
· February 27, 2023
paper
What China Is Learning From West African Managerial Practices

Investing in joint ventures has enabled Chinese cultural adaptation by emphasizing training programs in languages commonly spoken in West Africa, embracing local African management styles, and assimilating some local practices.

  • Abdoulkadre Ado
· October 27, 2022
video
How Benin Protected Its Business Interests in Deals With China

China and Benin have long had a flourishing economic relationship. While China has financed large-scale infrastructure projects and has since become Benin's largest trading partner, Benin has also been able to hold its own in negotiations despite their asymmetric trade relationship. Folashade Soule offers three reasons why Beninese officials were able to successfully negotiate with China.

· July 25, 2022
paper
Negotiating Local Business Practices With China in Benin

Beninese officials have shown how even small countries can use close coordination between ministries and other negotiating tactics to strike deals with Chinese counterparts that better protect their own interests.

· April 6, 2022