Iron sharpens iron : social interactions at China shops in Botswana / Yanyin Zi.

Print version record.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

For centuries the continent of Africa has been characterised by negative images such as poverty, disease and conflicts. Today, however, the People's Republic of China's growing presence in Africa, particularly with regards to China-Africa business relations, brings new vitality to the continent. This new movement is not a windfall but rather obtained through the hard work of both African and Chinese people at various levels. Narrating on daily experiences of Chinese merchants and their vivid interactions with people in Botswana, this book decodes the frustrating while rewarding process through which China-Africa relations have been maturing on the grass-roots level. This book not only presents insights and suggestions to both Botswana and Chinese policy makers interested in understanding their constituents' everyday interactions with each other, but also offers readers interested more broadly in contemporary Chinese experiences in Africa a fascinating glimpse into these cross-cultural encounters. This book is an original and pioneering study of issues that resonate in almost every African country which has responded to a growing Chinese presence. It argues that as the process of globalisation permeates the everyday lives of people, each individual is empowered to be an 'ambassador' in shaping international relations.

Cover; Title page; Copyright page; Dedication; Contents; List of Figures and Tables; Preface and Acknowledgement; Abstract; Chapter 1 -- Introduction; 1.1. The Research Problem; 1.1.1. Negative Local Media Coverage; 1.1.2. Positive Reports from the Chinese Government; 1.1.3 China Shops' Presence in Botswana-China Relations; 1.2. Research Purpose and Research Questions; 1.3. Justification for the Study; 1.4. Contextual Background; 1.4.1. General Economic Summary of Botswana; 1.4.2. Overview of Botswana-China Relationship.

1.4.3. Botswana-China Trade Relations and their Social and Economic Impact1.5. Organisation of the Book; Notes; Chapter 2 -- Literature Review and the Theoretical Framework; 2.1. China-Africa Relations; 2.1.1. Chinese in Africa; 2.1.2. Africans in China; 2.2. Previous Literature on China Shops; 2.2.1. China Shops in Africa; 2.2.2. China Shops in Asia; 2.3. Analytical Framing; 2.3.1. Intergroup Relations; 1. The Threat Perspective; 2. The Ethnic Economy Perspective; 3. The Contact Perspective; 2.3.2. Contact Zone; 2.3.3. Shaping Process; 2.4. Typology of Ethical Problems in China Shop Business.

2.5. SummaryNotes; Chapter 3 -- Methodology and Research Design; 3.1. Methodology; 3.1.1. Review on Methods Paradigm; 3.1.2. Justification for Methodological Approach; 3.2. Method; 3.2.1. Research Design; 3.2.2. Site Selection; 3.2.3. Data Collection Process; 3.2.4. Ethical Issues; 3.3. Scope and Limitations; 3.4. Summary; Notes; Chapter 4 -- China Shops and Chinese Merchants in Botswana; 4.1. An Overview of the Chinese in Botswana; 4.2. Distribution of Chinese Merchandise; 4.2.1. Wholesale Markets in China; 4.2.2. Merchandise to Botswana; 4.2.3. Merchandise to South Africa.

4.2.4. Quality Issues4.3. China Shops in Botswana; 4.3.1. Wholesale Stores; 4.3.2. Retail Shops; 4.3.3. Local Trading Regulation; 4.3.4. The Uniqueness of China Shops; 4.4. The Background of Chinese Merchants; 4.4.1. Statistics; 4.4.2. Historical View of Fujian; 4.4.3. Migration Chain; 4.4.4. Why Botswana; 4.4.5. Daily Life in Botswana; 4.5. Struggles in Daily Life; 4.5.1. Security Issues; 4.5.2. Isolation and Self-isolation; 4.5.3. Homesick; 4.5.4. Lack of Rest; 4.6. Summary; Notes; Chapter 5 -- The Business Challenges and Strategies in China Shops; 5.1. The Middleman Minority Perspective.

5.2. Nature of Challenges5.2.1. Internal Competition between Chinese Merchants; 5.2.2. Labour Issues; 5.2.3. Business Loss; 5.2.4. Regulation and Extortion; 5.3. Business Strategies; 5.3.1. Avoiding Competition; 5.3.2. Improving Management; 5.3.3. Bribery and Donation; 5.4. Discussion; Notes; Chapter 6 -- Fong Kong Goods and Related Relations in China Shops; 6.1. Fong Kong Goods; 6.1.1. Literature on Counterfeit Goods; 6.1.2. The Nature and Supply Chain of Fong Kong Goods; 6.1.3. Push and Pull Perspective; 6.2. Fong Kong Goods' Influence on Local Industry.

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