Envisioning environmental journalism as a mediating tool in cultural conflict

Abstract

Over the last two decades, China has become an important ally for African countries, with several African leaders openly saying that the East Asian country has become their most reliable trade and investment partner. Although many Chinese and African citizens have adapted to accepting and visiting each other’s nations for business, study, tourism, or many other purposes, their cultural values and beliefs have visibly clashed. Across Africa, Chinese citizens have been deported facing a spate of accusations that range from outright racism to mistreatment of workers. Also, in recent years, viral videos of China-based African students clashing with locals have emerged. The purpose of this chapter is to identify mechanisms through which environmental reporting could become a powerful factor in mediating and mending ties between Chinese communities and their local African hosts, potentially averting clashes that could worsen cultural conflict. This chapter focuses particularly on African mining communities that find themselves in a situation where they experience such cultural clashes as well as violations of African workers’ rights but simultaneously benefit from working in these Chinese-run mines.