Iron Sharpens Iron

Yanyin Zi

Description

For centuries the continent of Africa has been characterised by negative images such as poverty, disease and conflicts. Today, however, the People's Republic of China's growing presence in Africa, particularly with regards to China-Africa business relations, brings new vitality to the continent. This new movement is not a windfall but rather obtained through the hard work of both African and Chinese people at various levels. Narrating on daily experiences of Chinese merchants and their vivid interactions with people in Botswana, this book decodes the frustrating while rewarding process through which China-Africa relations have been maturing on the grass-roots level. This book not only presents insights and suggestions to both Botswana and Chinese policy makers interested in understanding their constituents' everyday interactions with each other, but also offers readers interested more broadly in contemporary Chinese experiences in Africa a fascinating glimpse into these cross-cultural encounters. This book is an original and pioneering study of issues that resonate in almost every African country which has responded to a growing Chinese presence. It argues that as the process of globalisation permeates the everyday lives of people, each individual is empowered to be an 'ambassador' in shaping international relations.

Sujets

• Anthropology

Informations

• Publié par: Langaa RPCIG
• Date de parution: 07 mars 2017
• Nombre de lectures: 3
• EAN13: 9789956764426
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 8 Mo

Extrait

IRON SHARPENS IRON: Social Interactions at China Shops in Botswana

Yanyin Zi

In collaboration

L a ng a a R P CIG M a nk on B a m end a

CAAS Kyoto U niversity

Publisher: LangaaRPCIG Langaa Research & Publishing Common Initiative Group P.O. Box 902 Mankon Bamenda North West Region Cameroon [e-mail] www.langaa-rpcig.net In Collaboration with The Center for African Area Studies, Kyoto University, Japan Distributed in and outside N. America by African Books Collective [e-mail] www.africanbookscollective.com ISBN-10: 9956-764-41-8 ISBN-13: 978-9956-764-41-9 First Published by Langaa in March 2017 ©Yanyin Zi 2017 All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, mechanical or electronic, including photocopying and recording, or be stored in any information storage or retrieval system, without written permission from the publisher

Dedication This book is dedicated to my family, which has been steadfast in sustaining me all these years. I would particularly like to thank my father and mother for their love and support.

Table of Contents List of Tables and Figures…………………………………. vii Preface and Acknowledgement.…………………….……… ix Abstract……………………………………………………… xv 1. Introduction………………………………………………. 1 1.1. The Research Problem…………………………………….1 1.2. Research Purpose and Research Questions………………. 11 1.3. Justification for the Study………………………………… 11 1.4. Contextual Background…..……………………….……… 12 1.5. Organisation of the Book………………………………… 22 2. Literature Review and the Theoretical Framework……………….………………….. 27 2.1. China-Africa relations ……………………………………. 27 2.2. Previous Literature on China Shops...……………………. 34 2.3. Analytical Framing ………………………………………. 41 2.4. Typology of Ethical Problems in China Shop Business………………..…………………….. 48 2.5. Summary ………………………………………………… 50 3. Methodology and Research Design……………………. 53 3.1. Methodology …………………………………………….. 53 3.2. Method……………………………………………………55 3.3. Scope and Limitations ……….……………………………60 3.4. Summary ………………………………………………… 61 4. China Shops and Chinese Merchants in Botswana………………………………………………. 63 4.1. An Overview of the Chinese in Botswana ………………. 63 4.2. Distribution of Chinese Merchandise ………….………….64 4.3. China Shops in Botswana ………………..……..…………66 4.4. The Background of Chinese Merchants ……….…………. 73 4.5. Struggles in Daily Life …………………….………………87

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4.6. Summary ………………………………………………… 94 5. The Business Challenges and Strategies in China Shops…………...………………………………97 5.1. The Middleman Minority Perspective …….……………… 98 5.2. Nature of Challenges ……………………..……………… 99 5.3. Business Strategies ………….………….………………… 110 5.4. Discussion……………………...………………………… 114 6. Fong Kong Goods and Related Relations in China Shops………………...…………………………119 6.1. Fong Kong Goods …………….………………………… 120 6.2. Fong Kong Goods’ Influence on Local Industry..…….….. 125 6.3. Fong Kong Goods’ Influence on Local Retailers ………… 129 6.4. Local Demand for Fong Kong Goods ……………………132 6.5. Local Government’s Practical Control of Fong Kong Goods ……………………..………………… 138 6.6. Discussion …………………………………..…………… 140 7. Employer–Employee Relations in China Shops 145 7.1. Employer–Employee Relations between Chinese and Africans……………..…………..…………… 145 7.2. Economic and Social Background of Botswana………….. 148 7.3. Perspective of Occupation Psychology…………………… 150 7.4. Recruitment Process and Background of Botswana Employees………………...………….…………151 7.5. Conflicts between Chinese and Local Employees………… 152 7.6. Recruitment Process and Background of Chinese Employees……..………………………………… 172 7.7. Discussion…………………………………...…………… 175 8. China–Botswana Relations beyond China Shops……………………………………………….181 8.1. Overview of Local Media Reporting on Chinese Projects………………………….……………… 181 8.2. The Botswana Government’s Response to Chinese Mega-projects and Their Restriction…..………185

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8.3. Status of Local People……………………….…………… 189 8.4. Local Attitudes to China Shops under a Deteriorating China Brand……………...……………… 191 8.5. Solutions………………………………….…….…………197 8.6. Discussion……….………………….…….……………… 201 9. Movement of Chinese Merchants…….………………… 205 9.1. A Snapshot History of China Shops……………………… 205 9.2. Business Upgrading…………………….………………… 214 9.3. Vicious Circles………………………….………………… 217 9.4. Summary…………………………………….…………… 220 10. What Next for China–Africa Relations..………….……. 223 10.1. Summary of the Research Problem and Study Questions……..……………………………………223 10.2. Summary of the Main Findings of the Study……….……. 224 10.3. The Roles of Chinese Merchants, Chinese Merchandise and China Shops…………...………..………229 10.4. Image of China in Botswana……………….….………… 236 10.5. China–Botswana Relations………………….……………239 10.6. Suggestions to Policy Makers……………….…………… 241 10.7. Rethink about Intergroup Relations and International Relations………………………………243 References…………………………………………………… 247 Index………………………………………………………….265

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List of Figures and Tables Figure 1 Building the Image of China………………..……… 10 Figure 2 View of Chinese Small Businesses in My Country……………………………………19 Figure 3 Impression of the Chinese Presence in My Country? …………………………..…...…… 20 Figure 4 Stakeholder Analysis of Trade Relationships……...………………………… 51 Figure 5 Theft Prevention in China shops……..……………. 73 Figure 6 Distribution by Region…………………..………… 74 Figure 7 Gender Rate by Age…….…………………………. 74 Figure 8 English Ability by Age……………...……………… 75 Figure 9 Education Level by Region…………………………75 Figure 10 Arrival Year by Region – A……………..…………76 Figure 11 Arrival Year by Region – B……………..………… 76 Figure 12 Employee to Owner Process………………………80 Figure 13 Principal Imports of Textiles & Footwear by Partner…………….…………………126 Figure 14 Principal Exports of Textiles & Footwear by Partner………….……………………127 Figure 15 Principal Import Items from China…………..……128 Figure 16 Rural Towns in Botswana and Namibia…………...………………………… 210 Figure 17 Vicious Circle…………………………..………… 218

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