Issue 4, 2022 

Africa: From Awakening to Development

Contents

▍Oversea

Shinzo Abe’s Assassination Unfolded the Real Japan Sun Ge

▍Cover Story  Africa: From Awakening to Development

Imagined Brother or Realistic Partner? — The Historical Narratives on China-Africa Relations  Li Xiaoyun, Zhang Chuanhong

China’s passive involvement in the west-dominant world system in the 19th Century is the core variable influencing China’s political, social, economic, and diplomatic relations with the rest of the world. The incompatibility between the“Tianxia System” and “Cosmopolitanism” remains unresolved with China’s rise. The Russia-Ukraine Crisis might provide an excuse for the West to reshape its relations with China. China-Africa solidarity forged from“revolutionary brotherhood” in history to“development partnership” since the new millennium has laid a good foundation for China to cultivate an alternative cosmopolitanism, although more efforts are needed to counter-balance the influences of Africa-West long-term (neo)colonial relationship.

Energize Africa’s Industrialization: How BRI Can Help? Tang Xiaoyang

Although the general environment for the industry is harsh in Africa, Chinese enterprises can make modest progress by utilizing the strength and experiences of China’s powerful industrial system. The synergetic development of industrial zones and infrastructure facilities provides critical support for the burgeoning factories. Chinese investors also increasingly focus on building connections with local clients, suppliers, and communities. The diverging values between Chinese and Africans are still the most fundamental challenges for bilateral cooperation. However, shared history of seeking independence, mutual respect in politics, and flexible and extensive practice help diverse stakeholders to achieve the common target of win-win industrial development. 

Targeting China: The U.S. Strategy towards Africa in the Age of Great Power Competition Zhang Hongming

Neglected Self- improving Continents — Africa’s Initiative in Multiple Crises Liu Haifang

▍Re-recognize the West

After the Overturning of Roe v. Wade: American Civil War 2.0? Liu Han

The decision of the US Supreme Court in Dobbs, which overruled Roe and denied the constitutional right to abortion, has brought about a seismic change in both American law and society. The decision and the constitutional interpretation controversy involved marks an unprecedented split among the justices of the Supreme Court and the part sanitation and politicization of the Court. The case results from the increasing intensification of the ideological civil war in the US in the past decades, and it serves as a symbol of, as well as a catalyst for, the coming civil war similar to the Civil War, though not fought by regular armies.

Both Failure and Success Lie in the “Catch-all Party” — The Historical Experience of the German Social Democratic Party Ma Jiahong

▍Social Structure Transition

The “Pathological” Study of Contemporary Chinese Social Structure Fang Ning

Advances and Retreats: Migrant Workers in China’s Urbanization Process Xia Zhuzhi

From Flourishing to Lingering: 40 Years of Chinese Private Entrepreneurs Guo Jing, Chen Yuhui

Trapped in Anxiety, Towards Differentiation: Contemporary Chinese Urban White-collar Workers Lian Si, Yuan Jing

▍Observation·Society

The Political Economy Story of Vocational Education Zhou Yisu

This paper treats vocational and technical education (VET) as an institution of skills formation. Tracing its roots to the second industrial revolution, the author examined the historical contingencies which underpinned the success and failure of VET development. The embeddedness of human labor and skills into economic production has been contested by other factors, among which rationalization of production and individual social mobility are two significant ones. Therefore, the establishment of VET could not be equated to an equilibrium state. Rather, the institution is always on the brink of change and requires constant recalibration against disorganizing forces.

The Logic of Running and the Future Way Out of China Middle and Western Vocational Schools Yin Qiuling

▍Policy

Has Data Become the Fifth Factor of Production?  Xu Sisu

China has taken data as the fifth factor of production to achieve a data-driven digital economy. This state policy will have a major impact on relations of production. Existing academic discussions focus on personal information protection and data ownership, lacking a macro-political and economic perspective. At the same time, there are still unsolved problems in the data factor market, such as effectiveness, fairness, and redistribution. For example, enterprises still have a rigid need for personal information; to cash their vested interests, the first-mover may hinder the latecomers from participating in the competition; should Internet users get dividends?

The Role of the State in the Development of the Internet Industry Huang Dongya, Liang Yuanli

This article examines the role of the state in the construction of network infrastructure, protection of the Internet industry and support of Internet enterprises. The growth and strength of China’s Internet industry are closely related to the role of the state. The state’s developmental role is not entirely a rational decision designed by the state, but a by-product of other national goals and departmental and local interests. The state also faces the tension between development and regulatory roles, it must provide vital rational decisions and support for the development of China’s Internet industry while balancing regulatory and developmental goals.

▍In the Folk

The Return of Rural Elites and Capital to the Countryside: The Practice of Rural Heritage under the Dual Logic Li Geng