China, region-centric infrastructure drives and regionalism in Africa

Abstract

This article provides a structural reading of the complexities of region-centric infrastructure drives, African regionalism and the role of China. Four structural layers underlying China’s engagement in the region are presented: the global infrastructure race; Pan-African continental connectivity; the intra-regional infrastructure race; and bilateral funding of regional infrastructure projects. The article finds that the global infrastructure race catalyses regionalism in Africa, offering agency of choice to East African Community (EAC) member states to select development partners interested in implementing region-centric infrastructure projects. While the ideological coherence between China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and Pan-African continental connectivity has advanced the idea of African regionalism, regionalism also appears to have been slowed by a Chinese-induced intra-regional infrastructure race and China’s bilateral approach with EAC member states. For regionalism to be successful, member states need to position themselves strategically in engaging China.