Between the dragon’s gift and its claws: China in Africa and the (un)civil fostering of ILO’s Decent Work Agenda

Golden Migrants: The Rise and Impact of Illegal Chinese Small‐Scale Mining in Ghana

“…Contrary to the popular narrative concerning the Chinese presence in Africa as being “monolithic,” it is far more complicated than that. Indeed, Chinese investments in Africa are being led by state‐owned companies, private Chinese, diaspora Chinese, and African Chinese businesses (Oshodi , 193). However, Haglund (, 557) points out that “at a time when most multinationals operating in Africa are private, large Chinese investors in strategic sectors such as energy, mining, and construction are frequently state‐owned.” However, in Ghana, the overwhelming number of Chinese involvement in galamsey is led by private Chinese citizens exercising their own agency beyond the purview of the Chinese state.…”

“…Such weakness can be attributed to the combination of governmental management flaws, greed, and external infiltration of foreigners as captured in the definition of a weak state. Oshodi (, 200) describes the aforementioned state weaknesses and the failure of African governments to strongly confront China over the violation of African laws by Chinese residents as the expansion of African governments' “points of exit” (194). Under this situation, Osaghae () argues that ordinary citizens fed up with governmental inaction seize the initiative under the banner of civil society to do something thereby creating “points of engagement” (Oshodi , 194).…”

Oscillation of Two Giants: Sino-Nigeria Relations and the Global South

“…While Sino-Nigeria engagement hold huge promises for both Nigeria and China, there have also been negative episodes. Some of these negative episodes have been met by both civil and uncivil local responses [105]. In terms of civil responses, there have been protests, police arrest and closures of Chinese businesses.…”

“…For one, non-state actors like the Nigeria-China Friendship Association (NICAF), Nigeria-China Business Council, and Association of Nigerian Students in China (ANSIC) contributes to deepening Sino-Nigeria relations (see for instance [134]). Yet, by the same token and given that Sino-Nigeria relationslike elsewhere [38,66,122] does not foreclose competition and conflicts (as would be highlighted below), some local interest groups like labour union and the media have viewed certain manifestations of Sino-Nigeria relations in negative terms [105]. We will return to the positive-negative perspective of Sino-Nigeria relations shortly.…”

“…For one, China has its ownpolitical, economic and strategicinterests when relating with other countries in the South [26]. So, that there is Chinese presence in Nigeria does not foreclose that such reality in some instances are injurious to both Chinese and Nigerians [1,105,134]. It is perhaps this realisation that led some to argue that rather than valorizing non-Western development perspectives or assuming that relating with China is the naturally preferred option to Africa, Beijing's proclamations "are treated as any more legitimate than claims by rival governments vying for African resources" ( [112], p. 14).…”