"The New Scramble for Africa:” China, Africa, Oil and the United States.

This paper intends to analyze the impact of China’s foreign policy in Africa to United States interests in Africa. During the winter of 1884-1885, the imperialist powers met in Berlin to divide the African continent among themselves. That conference was the springboard for the imperialist countries’ “Scramble for Africa.” Over the next several decades England, France, Germany, Portugal, and Belgium carved up the continent and established colonies for hegemony and exploitation. Today a “New Scramble for Africa” is occurring. This time, however, a non-Western-nationâ€"Chinaâ€"is actively involved in that “scramble,” and is vigorously challenging Western influence and interests in Africa. This development is a result of China’s rapid industrial growth over the past two decades and its deepening integration into the global economy. The focus of that competition is over access to raw materials, especially energy resources, and hegemonic influence. This competition is perhaps best indicated by the controversy over the civil war in the Darfur region of Sudan. Furthermore, China’s involvement in Africa is occurring at a point when the United States has accelerated its military involvement in Africa. This is reflected by United States military assistance to over 40 African states since the mid-1990’s, and the establishment of an United States African Central Command that will be put into place by Fall, 2008. What is the outline and scale of China’s involvement in Africa? What are China’s objectives in Africa? How has China’s involvement in Africa challenged United States interests there? How has the United States responded to China’s role in Africa? What are the implications of Chinese involvement in Africa to United States-Chinese relations? ..PAT.-Unpublished Manuscript [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]