Power Over Progress: How Politics Shape Development Finance in Africa
About this Event
How does Chinese overseas development finance compare with World Bank and OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development) bilateral finance once money reaches the ground? The GDP Center is excited to host author Keyi Tang for a talk on her new book, Power Over Progress: How Politics Shape Development Finance in Africa, published by Cambridge University Press.
In her book, the author analyzes projects financed by China, the World Bank, and OECD bilateral donors across 48 African countries between 2000–2021, linking them to original subnational election data for 519 regions and 175 interviews in Washington, Beijing, Ethiopia, Ghana and Zambia. She finds that where development finance lands, regardless of the financier, often reflects political survival strategies rather than development need.
The event will feature a presentation on the book's findings followed by an audience Q&A.
About the Speaker
Keyi Tang is an Assistant Professor at the ESADE Business School in Barcelona and a former Global China Post-doctoral Research Fellow at the Boston University Global Development Policy Center (GDP Center). The book Power Over Progress is based on a project during her time at the GDP Center. Part of the book manuscript won the 2024 Best Graduate Student Paper Award from the International Political Economy Section of the International Studies Association.
Dr. Tang's research sits at the intersection of international and comparative political economy of development, with a regional focus on Africa and China. Her scholarly work has appeared in journals including Review of International Political Economy, Energy Economics, and Energy Policy, and her commentary has been featured in outlets such as the China-Global South Project and the South China Morning Post.
Where is it happening?
Event Location & Nearby Stays:
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