Redefining 'aid' in the China–Africa context

Discussions on the politics of Chinese engagement with Africa have been marked by China being criticised for using aid in exchange for preferential energy deals and undermining good governance in Africa. This paper argues that these criticisms not only ignore the longer-term motivations and modalities of Chinese aid and the historical diversity of China-Africa relations, but also uncritically assume western aid to be morally superior and more effective in terms of development outcomes. The paper consists of three parts: it discusses the debates surrounding Chinese engagement in Africa; it maps the historical development of China-Africa engagement and investigates the impacts of the changing modalities of Chinese aid with reference to case studies on Angola and Ghana; and it offers a comparative analysis of these two cases. It argues that Chinese and western donors employ different ideologies and practices of governance to conceal their own interests and political discourses in Africa.