Africa's Shadow Rise: China and the Mirage of African Economic Development - Paperback

by Pádraig Carmody (Author), Peter Kragelund (Author), Ricardo Reboredo (Author)

For years economists have spoken of 'Africa rising', and despite the global financial crisis, Africa continues to host some of the fastest growing economies in the world.

Africa's Shadow Rise however argues that the continent's apparent economic 'rise' is essentially a mirage, driven by developments elsewhere - most particularly the expansion in China's economy. While many African countries have experienced high rates of growth, much of this growth may prove to be unsustainable, and has contributed to environmental destruction and worsening inequality across the continent. Similarly, new economic relationships have produced new forms of dependency, as African nations increasingly find themselves tied to the fortunes of China and other emerging powers.

Drawing on in-depth fieldwork in southern Africa, Africa's Shadow Risereveals how the shifting balance of global power is transforming Africa's economy and politics, and what this means for the future of development efforts in the region.

Author Biography

Pádraig Carmody teaches Geography at Trinity College Dublin, Ireland, where he directs the Masters in Development Practice and is a Senior Research Associate at the School of Tourism and Hospitality at the University of Johannesburg. His previous books include The New Scramble for Africa (2016), The Rise of the BRICS in Africa (Zed 2013).

Peter Kragelund is head of the Department of Social Sciences and Business, Roskilde University.

Ricardo Reboredo is a PhD candidate at Trinity College Dublin, Ireland His research interests include globalization, development, and Sino-African relations.