ABSTRACT
The chapter deals with Sino-Argentinean relations as an example of a new core–periphery relationship, according to Raúl Prebisch’s theorization. This case serves to identify in a general way the type of relationship that has been established between China and Latin American countries. It is argued that this type of exchange prevents the productive modernization of Latin America. Argentina is an example of this clash of modernizations between the Chinese model under the authoritarianism aimed at production for export and the failed Latin American model of import substitution industrialization. Primary productive specialization has damaged regional integration processes because China has specialized the export trade of Latin American countries, becoming also the main investor and lender. The chapter ends by analysing four reasons that explain this relationship of dependence vis-à-vis China and demonstrates the validity of Prebisch’s thesis formulated more than 70 years ago.
