Are Chinese immigrants in Cameroon perceived as a threat? This is the title of my most recent publication in the journal Africa Review. This article was published online in July 2020 and has not yet been assigned an issue. This article is part of a completed research project titled “Prejudice towards minorities in Cameroon” in Cameroon where I served as principal investigator. This is the last of 3 publications under this project. As an African scholar, I feel a responsibility to contribute to the scholarship on African issues and to publish in African-oriented academic journals. Africa Review’s aim is “to promote a scholarly understanding of developments and change in Africa”
Chinese immigrants are the largest immigrant group in Africa. There have been increasing media reports about violence, aggression, and negative attitudes toward Chinese people in Cameroon. This study provides empirical evidence that supports the idea that these negative attitudes towards Chinese immigrants are motivated by the fact that they are perceived as a threat. However, this study clearly shows that these attitudes are more related to the economic threat Chinese people are perceived to pose to society. This study is important because it indicates that in order to improve Sino-Cameroonian relations, there must be an overwhelming focus on reducing the perception of economic fears among the local population. This study is very important, especially in this time of Covid-19 where Chinese people all over the world are reported to have suffered from prejudice, discrimination, aggression, extreme distancing, blame, and stigma due to Covid-19 originating from China. The full article can be accessed through the link below:
Are Chinese immigrants in Cameroon perceived as a threat? https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/09744053.2020.1787076