The social and political impacts of South-South migration: A comparative analysis of Chinese migrant integration in West Africa

Lead Research Organisation: The Open University
Department Name: DDEM

Abstract

Abstracts are not currently available in GtR for all funded research. This is normally because the abstract was not required at the time of proposal submission, but may be because it included sensitive information such as personal details.

Publications

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Mohan G (2012) China in Africa: Impacts and Prospects for Accountable Development in SSRN Electronic Journal

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Mohan G (2015) Queuing up for Africa: the geoeconomics of Africa's growth and the politics of African agency in International Development Planning Review

 
Description The project's key findings were: A high approval rating for the Chinese across both countries; While there are notable areas of tension and conflict with locals, relations are often more convivial, cooperative and mutually beneficial than is generally recognized; Many Chinese businesses in both countries are long-standing or have long-term intentions to stay; Notions of an 'ethnic economy' are overplayed with limited ethnic cooperation and community organizing, strong competition between Chinese firms, and notable linkages with African society; There are few direct linkages between large Chinese state-backed enterprises and the independent small and medium sized enterprises; In numerous ways we see African actors creatively shaping, and often benefitting from, their relationship with the Chinese; Part of this African agency is resistance, both against elements of the Chinese presence deemed detrimental to particular local interests and African elites who allow, facilitate and/or benefit from these seemingly detrimental elements.
Exploitation Route To inform the emerging awareness of the significance of Chinese migration to Africa The research has been picked up by policy makers working in international organisations.
Sectors Communities and Social Services/Policy

 
Description Our data was picked up the the OECD and various migration research institutions.
First Year Of Impact 2011
Sector Communities and Social Services/Policy
Impact Types Societal,Policy & public services

 
Description The social and political impacts of South-South migration: A comparative analysis of Chinese migrant integration in West Africa
Geographic Reach Multiple continents/international 
Policy Influence Type Citation in other policy documents
Impact The paper by Mohan and Tan-Mullins is cited in this working paper
 
Description ESRC GCRF Strategic Networks
Amount £150,000 (GBP)
Funding ID ES/P006558/1 
Organisation Economic and Social Research Council 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 01/2017 
End 05/2018
 
Description The social and political impacts of south-south migration : a comparative analysis of Chinese migrant integration in west Africa 
Organisation University of Ghana
Country Ghana 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution Provided a shot-term consultancy contract and laptops.
Collaborator Contribution Worked on the survey design, implementation and analysis
Impact Central to all outputs.
Start Year 2010
 
Description The social and political impacts of south-south migration : a comparative analysis of Chinese migrant integration in west Africa 
Organisation University of Ibadan
Country Nigeria 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution Provided a consultancy contract and laptops.
Collaborator Contribution Worked on the survey design, implementation and analysis
Impact Central to all outputs.
Start Year 2010
 
Description Chinese migrants in Africa: New Agents of Development? 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Gained support for more research on Chinese migrants

Growing interest in Chinese migration
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2008
 
Description Chinese migrants in Africa: bilateral and informal governance of a poorly understood South-South flow 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Asked to write a working paper for UNRISD

Not known
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2013
 
Description Chinese migrants in Africa: the next imperialists or new agents of development? 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Other academic audiences (collaborators, peers etc.)
Results and Impact Deepened understanding of the Chinese presence in Africa, attracted a wide, non-specialist audience and reached beyond those in attendence via posting podcast of the event online.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2012
 
Description Chinese migrants in Ghana and Nigeria 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Other academic audiences (collaborators, peers etc.)
Results and Impact Deepened participants' understanding of the Chinese presence in Africa and instigated the creation of a new research network.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2013
 
Description Conference paper on researching China-Africa relations 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Other audiences
Results and Impact Paper was entitled Mohan, G., Lampert, B., Tan-Mullins, M., and Atta-Ankomah, R. (2017) 'The (im)possibility of Southern theory: co-producing knowledge about China-Africa relations', and presented at the workshop entitled 'Researching South-South Development Cooperation: Critical Reflections on Epistemological and Methodological Challenges', 3-4 April, University of Cambridge.

The paper will appear as a chapter in Researching South-South Development Cooperation: critical reflections on the politics of knowledge production, Routledge: London. Edited by Adriana Erthal Abdenur (Instituto Igarapé), Elsje Fourie (University of Maastricht), Emma Mawdsley (Cambridge University) and Wiebe Nauta (University of Maastricht)
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2017
URL http://www.crassh.cam.ac.uk/events/26939
 
Description Interview on Arise TV 
Form Of Engagement Activity A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Media (as a channel to the public)
Results and Impact Interview has been posted online and is receiving a growing number of hits.

Not aware of any as yet.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2014
URL http://dpp.open.ac.uk/media/videos/new-imperialists-or-agents-of-change-chinese-migrants-in-africa
 
Description Interview with China Daily 
Form Of Engagement Activity A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Not known
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2014
 
Description Literary Festival 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact 300 attended a session at the Cheltenham Literary Festival on the 'New Silk Road'

Asked to speak elsewhere
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2013
 
Description New migration trajectories and their implications for African development 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Other academic audiences (collaborators, peers etc.)
Results and Impact Deepened participants' understanding of the Chinese presence in Africa and instigated the creation of a new research network.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2013
 
Description Panelist at Emerging Economies in Africa Forum (London) 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Postgraduate students
Results and Impact My presentation and contributions as a panelised generated questions and discussion, particularly about the role of African agency in shaping China-Africa relations.

Audience members reported a new awareness of and interest in the role of African agency in shaping China-Africa relations. Interest generated in future collaborations with the Emerging Economies in Africa Forum and the King's African Leadership Centre.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2015
URL https://www.facebook.com/emergingafricakcl
 
Description Princes Teaching Trust Cambridge 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? Yes
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Schools
Results and Impact There were a lot of questions

The session received very good feedback and I was asked to give further talks by the Princes Teaching Trust
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2015
 
Description Seminar Paper (Warwick) 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Undergraduate students
Results and Impact The talk sparked a lot of questions

Organisers were pleased with turn out and responses
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2015
 
Description Sino-African encounters in Ghana and Nigeria: from tension and conflict to conviviality, cooperation and mutual benefit 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Other academic audiences (collaborators, peers etc.)
Results and Impact Deepened participants' understanding of the Chinese presence in Ghana and Nigeria and led to an invitation to contribute to two publication projects.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2013
 
Description Too often the West sees Africa as a pawn in a power game : John Kerry for one should know better 
Form Of Engagement Activity A magazine, newsletter or online publication
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Media (as a channel to the public)
Results and Impact The new US Secretary of State called US-Sino competition in Africa a "game"

The Independent
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2013
URL http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/comment/too-often-the-west-sees-africa-as-a-pawn-in-a-power-game...
 
Description VIth Form Geography teachers day on China 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Schools
Results and Impact 30 teachers attended an event on teaching China to A/S level students

Not known
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2014