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The petro-political configuration: entanglements of Western and Chinese oil zones in Niger

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  • Schritt Jannik

    (Jannik Schritt, Institute for Social and Cultural Anthropology, Georg August University of Göttingen, Theaterplatz 15, 37073 Göttingen, Germany, e-mail: jschrit@uni-goettingen.de)

Abstract

The article examines the spatial, economic, political and socio-cultural transformations induced in the process of Niger becoming a new oil producer in 2011. It does so by analyzing entanglements of Western and Chinese ‘oil zones’ in Niger, which are understood as trans-territorial spaces of assemblage. I argue that the specific properties of these two oil zones have triggered the emergence of a particular ‘petro-political configuration’ in Niger. The argument proceeds through four stages. Firstly, looking at economic entanglements, I argue that the Chinese oil zone enabled the Nigerien economy to develop so-called upstream and downstream oil industries, something the Western oil zone had not allowed. Secondly, analyzing political and socio-cultural entanglements, I argue that, by being co-opted into former Nigerien president Mamadou Tandja’s political project for constitutional amendment, China’s oil diplomacy has become a kind of ‘soft power’ in Niger, something Western political rhetoric has failed to achieve. Thirdly, focusing on geopolitical and military entanglements, I argue that the militarization of global space should ensure capitalist accumulation, especially in situations in which the translation of transnational governmentality has failed. Finally, I use these entanglements to identify the heterogeneous elements of Western and Chinese ‘oil zones’, and the specific capitalist properties these assemblages generate.

Suggested Citation

  • Schritt Jannik, 2016. "The petro-political configuration: entanglements of Western and Chinese oil zones in Niger," ZFW – Advances in Economic Geography, De Gruyter, vol. 60(1-2), pages 40-56, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:bpj:zfwige:v:60:y:2016:i:1-2:p:40-56:n:1
    DOI: 10.1515/zfw-2015-0583
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    References listed on IDEAS

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