A professor at American University’s School of International Service, Brautigam
is a longtime observer and former resident of China. In her new book she
documents how China, having established a higher standard of living for itself,
is now working to effect better conditions in Africa.
I found the speaker very interesting and was tempted to purchase it, but not enough to buy it new, even with the 20 percent member discount. I'll wait for this one on DVD (otherwise known as amazon used books). The question and answer period was great with many students and experts from the African NGO scene and students in the audience. The author talked about many specific countries, specific deals and arrangements, and specific news accounts.
My question had I asked it would have been for her to comment on the result of China's participation in these arrangements on China herself. She alluded to the fact that China did not in fact deal extensively with authoritarian regimes in Africa (did little to criticise them or sanction them but provided little in the way of financial suppoert). I did not find this surprising as any self interested country would prefer not to deal with an authoritatian regime as they are not transparent or trustworthy, hence the likelihood of returning a profit to China in the longrun is much diminished. Afterall these arrangements China is engaged in are menat to be mutually beneficial. It seems to me though that if China is engaging in bilateral trade agreements, then China is entangling itself in the international community in such a way that greater transparency and pressure to honor whatever commitments it engages in may lead to a liberalization of China itself.
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