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clay dubeIf you're interested, please take a look at these videos. The first is from Al Jazeera. It was made by Brent Huffman and Xiaoli Zhou. We screened a rough cut of it at USC back in 2010. Brent now teaches at Northwestern University. At the time, Xiaoli taught at Marlborough School in Hancock Park.
And also, two book talks by Deborah Brautigam:
The Dragon's Gift: The Real Story of China in Africa
USCI website | YouTube
Will Africa Feed China
USCI website | YouTube
What do you think of the ideas presented here?
Other videos:
Empire, from Al Jazeera 2014
China's state television network, CCTV offers many videos on Chinese in Africa.
edited by Clay Dube on 7/22/2016
clay dubeThese readings are optional, but I'm confident that you'll find them interesting. They look at Chinese in World War I and in Russia at about the same time. Both stories are not well known. The third article is about Chinese participation in the Spanish Civil War. One of the aspects of WW I that is too seldom discussed is the participation of Africans and Asians in what is usually thought of as a battle over control over Europe. These articles, each written for a Hong Kong-based newspaper, the South China Morning Post, may appeal to students. The website for the WW I story includes additional photos.
edited by Clay Dube on 7/22/2016
clay dubeAriang is a Korean network funded by the Korean International Broadcasting Foundation. South Korean government support makes it possible. Click here to see some videos on Koreans in Africa.
You may be particularly interested in this one on Koreans in Uganda. It was released last month.
clay dubeJapanese state broadcaster NHK has produced stories on Japanese aid and Japanese investment and trade with Africa. This one includes comments about Chinese agricultural assistance. The Japanese trade promotion agency, JETRO, has produced a video on Japan/Africa business.
AnonymousIt's interesting to realize that the US is more laxed on immigration laws than other countries. I used to think that US was very strict, now after reading about Japanese Immigration Laws I'm shocked to realized their laws are truly strict, Japan has no birthright citizenship law. It's interesting to also realize how conservative the Japanese government is right now. The problem of their population shrinking can be easily solved by reforming their immigration laws but since their government is unwilling to visit that idea due to their conservative views that the Japanese need to figure out a different way to mitigate that problem is just causing more headaches in Japan, I feel.
AnonymousIt's interesting to see how Africa has been exploited. First by the Europeans in the Colonization period and now by the Chinese. It's interesting to see that the Mozambique government does not give land to the people of Mozambique but does sell it to foreigners for a "period of time." It very interesting to see how people want to get around the laws by just marrying the girls of that country and having kids with them. It is insightful to see what is happening around the world. It makes me a little anxious that people are still very selfish and just want to take advantage of others. I would use this articles to pose statistical questions with my students on the economic impact that the Chinese have in Africa.
edited by cgonzalez on 7/24/2016
AnonymousReading: Chinese Laborers in Europe
I can’t say that I was completely surprised to read about how many Chinese civilians were involved in World War I helping on the side of the Allies. However, when I picture the troops in WWI I think about the involvement of the colonies of the Allies such as India and various countries in Africa. It seems as though from the reading that the Europeans had no interest in using the Chinese as soldiers but as laborers, that was something that I did not really think of before. China had a very different history of imperialism in comparison to some of the British and French colonies in Africa and other parts of Asia. It was very interesting to read the Chinese perspective in attempting to take back German held territories, and the British fear that India then be encouraged and interested in pursuing independence after the war depending on what happened with the Chinese. It was also interesting to see the motivation of the Chinese to get a seat at the negotiating table when the war ended.
Questions:
I wonder what other factors made the British and French so fearful that they would lose their hold over China if they were involved in the war as soldiers.
I also am curious as to how the Chinese that stayed in France became so interested in communism and if that was a direct influence in spreading communism in China.
clay dubeAndrew Higgins writes of Chinese in Vladivostok, many of them thinking that the city and region were rightfully Chinese. See the attached article or read it at:
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/07/24/world/asia/vladivostok-china-haishenwai-tourists.html?emc=edit_ae_20160724&nl=todaysheadlines-asia&nlid=53391876&_r=0
AnonymousAfter reading the article on Africans in Guangzhou, I was a bit surprised by the racism involved with African men marrying Chinese women. I understand the stereotypes that come from illegal immigration worldwide from whatever country you are coming to and from. What did surprise me about the article is that the family with an African man and Chinese woman, is that they had 3 children. I would think that she knew perfectly well, as did he, about the laws and what would happen to that 3rd child in regard to medical care and schooling. Or were they completely ignorant to that? I have had Chinese students in the past that say that their parents either chose to stop at the 1st child or paid the 30,000 for the 2nd, but never was there a consideration for the 3rd. Why would they make that choice knowing the consequences and then complain about those consequences that the 3rd child will face living in China? Or with how much much money they brag about having all article...then why don’t they just pay the fee?
AnonymousIn comparing the article, Chinese Marriages in Guangzhou to the video on Youtube, The Colony, it is interesting to see that the Chinese and Africans really do have the same views of each other whether that be in Guangzhou or in Senegal. I could see these 2 sources being used in describing prejudice and push/pull factors in regards to immigration. It seems as though many people whether Chinese or African choose to leave their homes in search of better job opportunities and a way to make a better living. Some of these people (Africans in China) are motivated to make money and maybe go back home, while others (Chinese in Senegal) want to make money and bring more family members out to the new country. The Chinese see many more benefits to living abroad, such as starting a business, maybe even less pollution. This would open up a great discussion with students on the reasons for immigration and what drives people to migrate to new areas. Sometimes the money is always the biggest push or pull factor, but sometimes it may be political or religious rights as well. In China today I could see the overcrowding and pollution being a major factor that pushes Chinese to leave the country.
AnonymousIt was only until the past year that I heard about Chinese investment in Africa. My prior knowledge of this topic was limited to the occasional news stories that focused on the desire of Chinese to purchase African ivory or rhino horns. I find it interesting to learn that many Chinese are willing to take great economic risks in Africa. It makes me wonder about the push factors within the Chinese economy and the origin of the Chinese who are willing to leave China for opportunity in a country they know relatively nothing about. Maybe there is limited opportunity for budding businessmen, entrepreneurs or other like-minded individuals in China. I also wonder how Chinese investors are perceived in various parts of Africa?
I teach ap world history and I would use this as a modern day connection to Admiral Zheng He and China’s Treasure Ships. China has always been a key commercial player in the Indian Ocean World and continues to have a heavy presence in our modern time frame. I would also consider using this as an example modern globalization or interconnectedness.
AnonymousIt had never crossed my mind that China or Chinese citizens would be doing business in Africa. I know they have been going to Latin America for quite some time now, you find “China Towns” in almost every major Latin American city such as Buenos Aires, Quito or Mexico City. It was a surprise to see that their presence in Africa is greater than in any other place. This excerpt from "China’s Second Continent: How a Million Migrants are Building a New Empire in Africa” was a great read, nonetheless, it gave me a bitter-sweet feeling. It reminds me of the “maquiladoras” in the Mexican-American border and the United Fruit Company in Central and South America, regardless of the new employment opportunities offered to locals, there was always harassment, corruption and a series of abuses that far from empowering citizens and teaching them new skills oppressed them, it’s a modern form of slavery. I see the same scenario in Mozambique, modern Chinese colonization of Africa, exploration of locals and abuse of economic position.
edited by iverdin on 7/24/2016
edited by iverdin on 7/24/2016
AnonymousAnonymousI was surprised to know that Japanese were so strict on immigration laws. There are tons of Japanese living around the world, mixing with other cultures, establishing businesses in remote places, I would never imagine that when it came to accept immigrants into Japan there was going to be rejection. What will the government ‘s approach to increase the labor force if immigration is not one of the top choices? The article mentions that Japanese are not xenophobic, but how can you explain the fact that they have no birthright citizenship laws. It would be very interesting to see what the measures will be in place to mitigate their shrinking population problems.
edited by iverdin on 7/25/2016
AnonymousFor session 1, we were asked to introduce our-self and my question was on this article below. Why is this so popular?
https://www.yahoo.com/news/japanese-rent-men-paid-just-listen-045544065.html
From lonely pensioners to Japanese schoolgirls with shattered dreams, Takanobu Nishimoto and his crew of middle-aged men will lend an ear to clients who would never dream of spilling their guts to a therapist or worse, their families.