While Western leaders were sleeping, China has crisscrossed the African continent with roads, bridges, train tracks, internet infrastructure and laced the landscape with Chinese architecture. But many accuse China of dealing in debt-trap diplomacy - saddling African nations with crippling-levels of debt that will ultimately turn defaulting governments into subjects of China, and into a new colonialism. But, so far, China has seized no sovereign assets in Africa, and has written off debts that the poorest countries were unable to service. But is it just a matter of time?
Marsh will argue that China's investments in Africa are no more malevolent or controlling than American or British operations, as all three drill for oil, establish military bases and try to exert political influence.
The key difference is that China saw something in Africa the West had not for decades: the possibility of African success. Thanks to its own economic transformation, China was able to imagine a wealthy Africa, an Africa with a middle class, an Africa that could provide a market for its companies and exports.
This book will evaluate how well China is executing that vision and whether Africa's socio-economic star really is rising, and consider just what type of world leader China seeks to be.