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The Dragon's Gift: The Real Story of China in Africa Reprint Edition

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Deborah Brautigam (Author)
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Deborah Brautigam (Author)
4.4 out of 5 stars 28 customer reviews
ISBN-13: 978-0199606290
ISBN-10: 0199606293
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Product Details

  • Paperback: 416 pages
  • Publisher: Oxford University Press; Reprint edition (June 20, 2011)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0199606293
  • ISBN-13: 978-0199606290
  • Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 0.9 x 6 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
  • Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (28 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #675,090 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Top Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 starsA useful analysis of China's aid and investment in Africa.
By Graham on May 6, 2010
Format: Hardcover Verified Purchase
China is often taciturn about the real size and scope of its projects in Africa, so this topic has suffered from much confusion and often from inflated (or guessed) numbers. Prof. Brautigam aims to describe and analyze the real Chinese aid picture, using both anecdotal data obtained from many personal visits to Chinese development projects in Africa and also statistical data obtained through carefully digging into the real numbers behind the headlines.

Although she notes some concerns, Brautigam is on balance fairly positive on China's role, especially in its emphasis on practicalities. I learned many things, including:

* China explicitly declares that its programs are aiming for "mutual benefits" and "win-win" rather than simply dispensing charity. For example, projects may be directly profitable, or they may foster Chinese trade. Interestingly, this peer-peer style is often popular with recipients.

* The main Chinese focus is on fostering economic development (in infrastructure, agriculture, or industry) as the path to a better future, rather than on relieving today's symptoms.

* China is consciously reusing strategies that seemed to work in developing China itself. For example, in the 1950s Japan provided China with development loans and technology tied to specific projects, and was repaid with the products of the resulting Chinese factory or mine. China perceives this as a key "win-win" strategy for development.

* China emphasizes "no strings" and non-interference in countries internal affairs. However a key goal, especially in earlier years, was building up support for the PRC against Taiwan. Aid would only be given to those countries that recognized Beijing as the sole government of China.Read more ›
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4.0 out of 5 starsA view of China in Africa by an expert in both
By ewaffle on November 30, 2011
Format: Paperback
The People's Republic of China do a lot right in their dealing with the developing states of Africa. When investing in a country or granting aid the Chinese don't make political demands; they don't insist the recipient nation reform its economy to better pay bondholders; they stay for as long is necessary to get a project running and hand it over to the Africans, always ready to return if necessary. The Chinese build what African nations want--a railroad, a stadium, an office building for the Foreign Ministry--these are they types of "wasteful" projects that the International Monetary Fund and World Bank won't even consider. And commercial banks won't fund a project without the imprimatur of those transnational financial giants.

Technicians and executives from China work alongside their African counterparts. They live simply and frugally, often in barracks that they construct upon arrival. Managers and workers from the global North generally live in separate compounds, luxurious by African (or Chinese) standards and tend to supervise from afar--or at least as far as possible.

The Chinese are trusted because they aren't a former colonial power--indeed they can claim to be "post-colonial" themselves. They listen to what Africans want, even if those they are listening to are autocratic dictators. The Chinese drive hard bargains but do so in a businesslike fashion.

The future of Africa may well be in the East--the efforts of the United States and Western Europe have done little even after pouring billions of dollars in aid, debt cancellation and low interest loans into the same area.
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4.0 out of 5 starsThe best book on the subject
By Tiger CK on June 11, 2011
Format: Paperback Verified Purchase
The Dragon's Gift is an insightful, deeply researched and keenly argued look at China's growing economic involvement in Africa. The author, a professor at American University, made numerous visits to China and Africa in the course of writing this book, conducting interviews with key officials and businessmen. The result is a book that runs circles around other books on the subject. The level of sophistication and analysis here is vastly superior to China's Africa Safari and other more sensational works looking at China's economic relationship with the African continent.

Brautigam does an excellent job of demonstrating both the truths and fictions underlying Chinese aid in Africa. She generally argues that while Western countries have raised some legitimate questions about Beijing's policies, they have, for the most part, exaggerated the negative consequences of the PRC's growing presence on the continent. In fact, many of the strategies that China uses to promote trade and investment in Africa were first practiced in China by Japan and the West. Moreover, she finds high levels of hypocrisy in the complaints lodged against China by the World Bank and other institutions that have invested in the same countries that they criticize China for supporting.

The first two chapters of the Dragon's Gift cover the history of Chinese involvement in Africa, examining some of the early aid programs that the PRC launched on the African continent during the 1960s and 1970s. The author then looks at the various kinds of assistance that China has offered and the impact that these forms of assistance are having on the ground.

The only reason that I have docked this book one star is that it at times is slightly inaccessible to general readers.Read more ›
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Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 starsFive Stars

Thank you, my book actually came a day earlier than scheduled!

Published 1 month ago by Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 starsThe Best Introduction to China in Africa

Professor Brautigam brings curiosity, background knowledge, long experience, broad government, social and academic connections, and an old-fashioned professorship that lets her... Read more

Published 4 months ago by Godfree Roberts
5.0 out of 5 starsFive Stars

Extensive work!

Published 13 months ago by Djibril Aw
4.0 out of 5 starsChina and development, a good perspective

I'd highly recommend this to glean insight into China's interactions with non OECD countries. This seems to provide a clear view into the nature of long standing transactions and... Read more

Published 16 months ago by Mark
5.0 out of 5 starsA good antidote to the mindless anti-China propaganda that passes for...

A good antidote to the mindless anti-China propaganda that passes for journalism on the subject of China's role in Africa.

Published 16 months ago by Jonathan
5.0 out of 5 starsNrw power and influence in Africa

This is a clear yet detailed examination of China's investment in many African countries.

Published 17 months ago by Diana G. Hamilton
4.0 out of 5 starsFour Stars

Good book, with lots of real examples. It is a page turner!

Published 18 months ago by Donald Hsu
5.0 out of 5 starsBuy this book, read it, will not disappoint.

Beautiful book! It is great to read a book about China that is fair.

Frankly, I find some parts of the book dry, too academic for a casual reader. Read more

Published 19 months ago by foxmulder_ms
3.0 out of 5 starsThree Stars

good deal but where is the paper cover outside the hardcover?

Published 19 months ago by Long Yingxian
4.0 out of 5 starsA bit long winded, but worth the read in the end. Excellent

A bit long winded, but worth the read in the end. Excellent
Definitely an authority on a difficult subject that could have serious consequences for Africa.

Published on January 15, 2014 by Xolaniss

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