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The Institutional and Political Dimensions of FDI Spillovers in Zambia

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The Political Economy of Chinese FDI and Spillover Effects in Africa

Abstract

The aim of the chapter is to provide an understanding of why, despite the increased involvement of Chinese capital in Zambia, and the rhetoric of the need to benefit from the presence of this, spillover effects have not occurred there. The author tried to find an answer to the question—How is it possible that copper-rich Zambia, independent for almost 60 years, has failed to create institutions effectively implementing government policies? The text is primarily based on field research conducted in Zambia in 2019, during which a series of semi-structured interviews were conducted with foreign investors and civil servants working for Zambian state institutions.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    Interview with Kanenga Haggai, Lecturer/Researcher, University of Zambia, School of Humanities and Social Sciences, Department of Development Studies, 30 April 2019.

  2. 2.

    Interview with Minister of Presidential Affairs Freedom C. Sikazwe, Lusaka, 31 April 2019.

  3. 3.

    Interview with Charles Mafa, independent journalist, Lusaka, 8 May 2019.

  4. 4.

    Interview with Joyce Nonde-Simukoko, Minister of Labor and Social Security, Lusaka, 7 May 2019.

  5. 5.

    Interview with Joyce Nonde-Simukoko, Minister of Labor and Social Security, Lusaka, 7 May 2019.

  6. 6.

    It should be noted that the ZDA was aware of this and, as of 2019, was open to the idea of obligatory reporting to the ZDA on even the smallest foreign investment.

  7. 7.

    Interview with Mwanda Phiri and Shimukunku Manchishi, Zambia Institute for Policy Research and Analysis (ZIPAR), Lusaka, 3 May 2019.

  8. 8.

    Interview with Arthur Luyuwa, Lusaka, 9 May 2019.

  9. 9.

    Interview with John Mulungoti, Lusaka, 9 May 2019.

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Polus, A. (2023). The Institutional and Political Dimensions of FDI Spillovers in Zambia. In: Kopiński, D., Carmody, P., Taylor, I. (eds) The Political Economy of Chinese FDI and Spillover Effects in Africa . International Political Economy Series. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-38715-9_7

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