China, Africa, and the Future of the Internet

China is transforming Africa's information space by providing loans, training, and exchange programmes, setting up its own media operations, and helping African governments expand access to the internet and mobile phones. While Western countries have linked the need to fight security threats with restrictions of the information space, China has been vocal in asserting the need to control communication to ensure stability and development. This book provides the first assessment of China's new model for the media strategies of developing states and the consequences of policing Africa's information space for geopolitics, security, and citizenship.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 192 pages
Publication date: 15 June 2019
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC

China is playing a significant role in transforming Africa's information space, providing extensive loans, training, and exchange programs to African broadcasters and establishing its own media operations on the continent through CCTV Africa. In the telecommunications sector, China is assisting African governments in expanding access to the internet and mobile phones, with rapid and large-scale success. While Western countries have linked the need to fight security threats with restrictions on the information space, China has been vocal in asserting the need to control communication to ensure stability and development.

This highly original book offers a unique perspective on China's involvement in Africa's information landscape, featuring interviews with a diverse range of actors, including Chinese and African journalists, Chinese workers for major telecommunication companies, and other stakeholders. It demonstrates how China is contributing to the Africa rising narrative while also exploiting the weaknesses of Western approaches to Africa, which are caught between the need to prioritize stability and service delivery and the desire to advocate for human rights and freedom of expression.

The book argues that no state can be understood without attention to its information structure and provides the first assessment of China's new model for the media strategies of developing states. It also explores the consequences of policing Africas information space for geopolitics, security, and citizenship.

Overall, China's involvement in Africa's information space is a complex and multifaceted issue that requires careful consideration. While it has brought significant benefits, it has also raised concerns about censorship, surveillance, and the potential for Western influence to be diluted. As Africa continues to develop and integrate into the global economy, it will be important to ensure that its information space is open, accessible, and diverse, and that the voices of all Africans are heard.

Weight: 226g
Dimension: 215 x 159 x 16 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781783605224