Abstract :
Scholars and the international media often allude to a putative
“African view” of Africa–China links, constructed from anecdotal evidence.
Using random sample and university-based surveys, we elaborate the
first empirically based study of what Africans think of their relationships
with China. We reach three conclusions. First, African views are not nearly
as negative as Western media make out, but are variegated and complex.
Second, the survey results are at variance with the dominant Western
media representation that only African ruling elites are positive about
these links. Third, we find that the dominant variation in African perspectives
is by country, compared with variations such as age, education and
gender. The differences among countries in attitudes towards China are primarily
a function of the extent to which national politicians have elected to
raise the “Chinese problem” and, secondarily, the extent of Western media
influence in African states.
