The list of grievances against Chinese companies operating in Africa is long and varied, from violations of labor rights to environmental destruction to widespread allegations of corruption. Although it is hard to tell how many companies are truly guilty of poor corporate citizenship, the perception of bad behavior is nonetheless widespread. However, that may be starting to change, says Witney Schneidman, a Brookings Institution fellow and a former Africa policy-maker for the U.S. State Department. In a December 2014 blog post on the Brookings website, Schneidman contends that there is a growing awareness in Beijing of the need for Chinese corporate behavior to evolve beyond the current loan-fueled rush to grab market share and natural resources. Schneidman joins Eric & Cobus to discuss his views on the new, emerging era of improving Chinese corporate behavior in Africa.
Recommendations
- “Are Chinese Companies Retooling in Africa?,” Witney Schneidman, Brookings Institution blog, December 18, 2014
- “China’s Growing Involvement in Chad: Escaping Enclosure?” Romain Dittgen & Daniel Large, South African Institute of International Affairs, May 2012
