Abstract:

Times are changing in Africa. After two decades of poor developmental records, since the beginning of this century the prospects for many African countries are improving in terms of growth and development, although the challenges ahead remain huge. Another emerging aspect of the African international political economy is the growing influence in many respects of other developing economies, including India, Brazil, and of course China. New partners have arrived in a new opportunity for the continent even if it is not a free risk one. This growing influence can be seen when checking the evolution of the volumes of trade, investment and aid programmes. China is currently the first trade partner for the majority of African countries. Beyond these figures, in the case of China there is as well an increasingly important presence of Chinese migrants all over the continent involved in all sorts of activities. Thus, to the aforementioned growing economic influence, there is as well an increasing human presence.