China and the Hidden Politics of Global AidThe development finance industry would like us to believe that money for infrastructure, education, and other needs goes to where it's needed most. The reality, though, isn't that simple. Politics, it turns out, plays a much more important role than many would like to admit.
Keyi Tang, an assistant professor at ESADE Business School in Spain, studied development finance data on 48 African countries over a 20-year period that revealed that money often flows to those who hold influence rather than to those who need it most.
Keyi joins Eric to discuss the findings that she recently published in her new book, "Power Over Progress: How Politics Shape Development Finance in Africa."
📌 Topics Covered in this Episode
• Political forces shaping development finance
• How China compares to Western lenders
• Why aid often favors politically strategic regions
• The role of domestic elections and power dynamics
• Structural inequalities in the global finance system
• The rise of borrower coordination efforts
• Impact of shrinking Western and Chinese funding
• How civil society can drive accountability
Show Notes:
• Cambridge University Press: Power Over Progress: How Politics Shape Development Finance in Africa by Keyi Tang:
https://a.co/d/04Oc87sf
Join the Discussion:
X: @ChinaGSProject | @eric_olander
Facebook: www.facebook.com/ChinaAfricaProject
YouTube: www.youtube.com/@ChinaGlobalSouth
Now on Bluesky! Follow CGSP at @chinagsproject.bsky.social
Follow CGSP in French and Spanish:
• French:
www.projetafriquechine.com • |
@AfrikChine • Spanish:
www.chinalasamericas.com • |
@ChinaAmericas
Join us on Patreon!
Become a CGSP Patreon member and get all sorts of cool stuff, including our Week in Review report, an invitation to join monthly Zoom calls with Eric & Cobus, and even an awesome new CGSP Podcast mug! www.patreon.com/chinaglobalsouth
152|30M
