China's Second Continent : How a Million Migrants Are Building a New Empire in Africa

An exciting, hugely revealing account of China's burgeoning presence in Africa--a developing empire already shaping, and reshaping, the future of millions of people. A prizewinning foreign correspondent and former __New York Times__ bureau chief in Shanghai and in West and Central Africa, Howard French is uniquely positioned to tell the story of China in Africa. Through meticulous on-the-ground reporting--conducted in Mandarin, French, and Portuguese, among other languages--French crafts a layered investigation of astonishing depth and breadth as he engages not only with policy-shaping moguls and diplomats, but also with the ordinary men and women navigating the street-level realities of cooperation, prejudice, corruption, and opportunity forged by this seismic geopolitical development. With incisiveness and empathy, French reveals the human face of China's economic, political, and human presence across the African continent--and in doing so reveals... "From the prize-winning investigative reporter: a trenchant, immersive account of the burgeoning Chinese presence in Africa-a developing empire already shaping the future of the world's incipient superpower and its fastest growing continent. Former New York Times bureau chief in Africa and China, Howard W. French is uniquely positioned to tell the story of this seismic geopolitical development. Through meticulous on-the-ground reporting, French draws a nuanced portrait of China's economic, political, and human presence across the African continent. We meet a broad spectrum of China's dogged emigrant population, from those singlehandedly reshaping African infrastructure, commerce, and even geography (a timber entrepreneur determined to harvest the entirety of Liberia's old-growth redwoods) to those barely scraping by but still convinced of Africa's opportunities. French's acute observations offer illuminating insight into the most pressing unknowns of modern Sino-African relations: Why China is making these cultural and economic incursions into the continent and how extensive they are; what Africa's role is in this equation; and what the ramifications for both parties and their people-and the watching world-will be in the foreseeable future"--Publisher's description A #160;New York Times #160;Notable Book#160; Chinese immigrants of the recent past and unfolding twenty-first century are in search of the African dream. So explains indefatigable traveler Howard W. French, prize-winning investigative journalist and former New York Times bureau chief in Africa and China, in the definitive account of this seismic geopolitical development. Chinas burgeoning presence in Africa is already shaping, and reshaping, the future of millions of people. From Liberia to Senegal to Mozambique, in creaky trucks and by back roads, French introduces us to the characters who make up Chinas dogged emigrant population: entrepreneurs singlehandedly reshaping African infrastructure, and less-lucky migrants barely scraping by but still convinced of Africas opportunities. Frenchs acute observations offer illuminating insight into the most pressing unknowns of modern Sino-African relations: Why China is making these cultural and economic incursions into the continent; what Africas role is in this equation; and what the ramifications for both parties and their peopleand the watching worldwill be in the foreseeable future. One of the Best Books of the Year at #160; The Economist #160; #160; The #160; Guardian#160; Foreign Affairs French Reveals The Human Face Of China's Economic, Political, And Human Presence Across The African Continent-- And In Doing So Reveals What Is At Stake For Everyone Involved. We Meet A Broad Spectrum Of China's Dogged Emigrant Population, From Those Singlehandedly Reshaping African Infrastructure, Commerce, And Even Environment, To Those Just Barely Scraping By, Still Convinced That Africa Affords Them Better Opportunities Than Their Homeland. And We Encounter An Equally Panoramic Array Of African Responses To This New World Order. Documents The Burgeoning Chinese Presence In Africa To Examine China's Potentially World-changing Role In Reshaping Africa's Culture And Economy. Part One: Manifest Destiny -- Mozambique -- Behold The Future -- Friendly Gestures -- Part Two: The Devil And The Deep Blue Sea -- Liberia: Small Fates -- Conakry: Late To The Banquet -- Freetown: Instruments Of Magic -- Why Mali? -- Ghana: Habits Of Democracy -- Part Three: Happy Family -- Saints Of The Household -- Fat Of The Land. Howard W. French. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Discusses China's growing presence in Africa that includes Chinese migrant workers, and economic efforts to improve African infrastructure [ China's Second How a Million Migrants Are Building a New Empire in Africa French, Howard W. ( Author ) ] Hardcover 2014