Africa e Cina: Imprese e Lavoro

The paper critically discusses the recent literature on China’s engagement in Africa in terms of entrepreneurship and labor issues. It deals with the articulation of the Chinese businesses, ranging from state-owned enterprises to small private firms. Also given to the multiplicity of provincial relations and central state agencies, no homogenized, unitary relations between these actors and the Chinese state can be postulated. The paper also highlights the recent evolution among scholars from a focus on China’s agency only, that presents the Africans as passive recipients, to a more encompassing view that highlights the active role of African governments and other agents in negotiating the terms of China’s engagement. Labor issues are also discussed, with a focus on the recent process of localization of the Chinese businesses and its implications.