African countries are not simply spectators to the economic rise of China and India, they are party to it. This book demonstrates how the growing economic power of China and India is already influencing the growth patterns of African countries, particularly oil- and commodities-exporting ones. As world prices for commodities rise, producer countries in Africa and throughout the world will gain, but there is more to the story than that. Some African countries are redirecting part of their trade and other relationships from their traditional OECD partners to China and India. The book explores the consequences of this, and comes to some surprising conclusions.
This book is a must-read for anyone who is concerned with the changes in the world economy being brought about by the extraordinary economic growth of China and India. Not only do they represent over a billion workers, but these workers are also consumers and investors. As China and India consolidate their positions in Africa, the results could be unexpected and dramatic.