Journal of Social Science and Human Research Studies (JSSHRS) · Research article · Open access
Dragon's Dividend or Debt Trap? The Implications of China's FDI in Africa for African States
Sampson Hodor
25 March 2026 · Vol. 2, Issue 3, pp. 278-287
DOI: 10.65150/EP-jsshrs/V2E3/2026-13
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What is this article about?
The paper examines the increasing influence of China's foreign direct investment (FDI) in Africa since the early 2000s, analysing its implications for both recipient African nations and traditional Western donors. It discusses the motivations behind China's investments, including resource acquisition and strategic policy objectives, while acknowledging a growing focus on market size.
Article at a glance
- Published
- 25 March 2026
- Volume / issue / pages
- Vol. 2, Issue 3, pp. 278-287
- ISSN
- 3051-3561 (online) · 3051-3553 (print)
- Licence
- CC BY 4.0 — free to read and reuse with attribution
- Peer review
- Double-blind, at least two independent reviewers
- Publisher
- EP Journals Group
Abstract
The paper examines the increasing influence of China's foreign direct investment (FDI) in Africa since the early 2000s, analysing its implications for both recipient African nations and traditional Western donors. It discusses the motivations behind China's investments, including resource acquisition and strategic policy objectives, while acknowledging a growing focus on market size. The paper also explores the diverse impacts of Chinese FDI on Africa's development, presenting mixed opinions on its effectiveness in fostering economic growth, infrastructure, and industrialisation, alongside concerns regarding debt sustainability and environmental degradation. Finally, it highlights the competition between China and Western powers for influence in Africa, suggesting that this dynamic offer African nations increased leverage to pursue their own development paths.
Keywords: Foreign Direct Investment, Aid, Dependency, Debt Sustainability, Resource Depletion
Cite this article
Sampson Hodor (2026). Dragon's Dividend or Debt Trap? The Implications of China's FDI in Africa for African States. Journal of Social Science and Human Research Studies, 2(3), 278-287. https://doi.org/10.65150/EP-jsshrs/V2E3/2026-13
@article{Sampson2026,
title = {Dragon's Dividend or Debt Trap? The Implications of China's FDI in Africa for African States},
author = {Sampson Hodor},
journal = {Journal of Social Science and Human Research Studies},
year = {2026},
volume = {2},
number = {3},
pages = {278-287},
doi = {10.65150/EP-jsshrs/V2E3/2026-13},
url = {https://doi.org/10.65150/EP-jsshrs/V2E3/2026-13}
}Questions about this article
Who wrote this article?
Sampson Hodor.
Where and when was it published?
In Journal of Social Science and Human Research Studies, Volume 2, Issue 3, pages 278-287, published by EP Journals Group on 25 March 2026.
Is this article free to read?
Yes. It is open access under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 (CC BY 4.0) licence, so anyone can read, share and reuse it with attribution.
What is the DOI of this article?
10.65150/EP-jsshrs/V2E3/2026-13 (https://doi.org/10.65150/EP-jsshrs/V2E3/2026-13).
How do I cite this article?
APA: Sampson Hodor (2026). Dragon's Dividend or Debt Trap? The Implications of China's FDI in Africa for African States. Journal of Social Science and Human Research Studies, 2(3), 278-287. https://doi.org/10.65150/EP-jsshrs/V2E3/2026-13
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