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The Open University

Rising China and Africa's development: oil

The Open University via OpenLearn

Overview

China has emerged as a global economic superpower over the past few decades. This has sparked intense academic and popular debate about the long-term implications of its continued growth. The expansion of China into African countries in pursuit of natural resources has incited particular controversy - does it spell increased cooperation between developing countries for mutual benefit or are Chinese practices largely exploitative, signalling a new phase of neo-colonialism? This free course, Rising China and Africa's development: oil, considers the impact of the rise of China on Africa's development through the lens of oil production.The following animation gives a flavour of the course.

Syllabus

  • About this course
  • About this course
  • Acknowledgements
  • Session1Session 1: The rise of China and resource demand
  • Introduction
  • 1 A brief introduction to China’s relationship with Africa
  • 2 An increasing need for greater levels of resources
  • 2.1 Business-minded China
  • 3 Chinese economic reforms and energy security
  • 4 The ‘Going Out’ period
  • 5 Chinese oil companies in Africa
  • 6 Summary of Session 1
  • References
  • Acknowledgements
  • Session2Session 2: The politics of resource governance
  • Introduction
  • 1 Rich in resources, but low in growth
  • 2 The resource curse thesis
  • 2.1 Less economic growth
  • 2.2 Weaker democracy
  • 2.3 Worse development indicators
  • 3 The resource curse in Nigeria
  • 4 More than an institutional fix: politics matter
  • 4.1 African agency
  • 5 Political settlement theory
  • 6 China–Nigeria relations and oil
  • 7 Summary of Session 2
  • References
  • Acknowledgements
  • Session3Session 3: Local content and linkages
  • Introduction
  • 1 Oil sector localisation and African development
  • 2 A ‘model’ of linkage development
  • 2.1 What are linkages?
  • 2.2 Types of linkages
  • 2.3 Determinants of linkage development
  • 3 Linkage development: Ghana case study
  • 4 Linkage development: are the Chinese different?
  • 5 Summary of Session 3
  • References
  • Acknowledgements
  • Session4Session 4: Global oil markets, geopolitics and diversification
  • Introduction
  • 1 Risk perception and management
  • 2 How the Chinese deal with risk
  • 3 The history of Sudan and the role of CNOCs
  • 4 Oil, war and the economy
  • 4.1 Reaching out to new investors
  • 4.2 Chinese oil companies and Sudanese politics
  • 5 Understanding the history of Sudan’s oil governance
  • 6 Political risk and the ‘Genocide Olympics’
  • 7 What is the future for Chinese oil investment in Sudan and South Sudan?
  • 8 Summary of Session 4
  • References
  • Acknowledgements
  • Session5Session 5: Leveraging better development from natural resources: beyond the resource curse
  • Introduction
  • 1 Taking stock of the evidence
  • 2 Policy options
  • 3 Interactive game
  • 4 Test your learning
  • 5 Summary of Session 5
  • Where next?
  • Acknowledgements

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