Narratives of Asia UCL Asiatic Affairs

Exploring China’s diplomatic motivations, Taiwanese hacktivism culture and efficient government-led pandemic responses, this episode proffers a teaser for their recently published policy paper and offers introductory insight into the relationship between ideology, the state, and technology. Our affiliated research team from Bentham Brooks Institute discusses the deployment of digital surveillance models in India, exportation of Chinese surveillance strategies abroad and further highlights their potential repercussions for a post-pandemic society.

Joined by Doris Okenwa, member of the UCL Anthropology Department, in this episode, Karyn and Angela will be continuing with the topic of corporate social responsibility by honing in on the roles played by culture and demographic tensions in shaping the future of development in Africa. Addressing potential threats towards resource permanency and Africa’s green future, the episode ties together the past, present and future of investment in Africa. 

Doris Okenwa is also co-author of Land, Investment & Politics: Reconfiguring Eastern Africa's Pastoral Drylands.

Joined by Doris Okenwa, member of the UCL Anthropology Department, in this episode, Karyn and Angela will be introducing Doris’ research on Oil in Kenya whilst looking more closely at the practice of ethical capitalism and corporate social responsibility, as well as framings of development against a neoliberal backdrop in Africa. 

Doris Okenwa is also co-author of Land, Investment & Politics: Reconfiguring Eastern Africa's Pastoral Drylands.

Continuing our discussion of China-Africa relations, this episode focuses on the wider discourse surrounding China’s neo-colonial practices in Africa and beyond. The nature of China’s relations with many countries today has been frequently held in comparison to European colonial practices in the 19th and 20th century. Critiqued as a form of neo-colonialism, join our moderator, Angela, and Min Jing, a writer from UCL Asiatic Affairs, together with Lisa, Larissa and Stephen from UCL African Conference in examining the competing narratives behind this discourse.

From China’s debt-trap diplomacy to US cultural hegemony, this episode examines recent changes to power relations in the global order. Engaging with state-centric realism and interests of dominance, this episode helps exemplify the various manifestations of apparent neocolonial practices on an international level, seen between China-Africa relations and otherwise. 

Music by scottholmesmusic.com

From infrastructural projects to the erection of military ports, China’s involvement in Africa as being purely an economic venture has long been contested. Similar to selected countries involved in China’s Belt and Road Initiative, China’s investment in Africa takes on a strategic character. However, its degree of compatibility with African governments’ interests is arguably undermined by differing motivations. 

Drawing from the previous discussion in episode 9.1 over China’s foreign policy towards Africa, our moderator, Angela, and Min Jing, a writer from UCL Asiatic Affairs, together with Lisa, Larissa and Stephen from UCL African Conference will be further exploring China’s Belt and Road Initiative and its role in African development in this episode. In addition to visible current implications, the episode extrapolates into the advancing economic frontier before deliberating over the future of the Project in Africa. 

Music by scottholmesmusic.com

The African debt crisis is often featured prominently within the China-Africa discourse but what does the term ‘debt crisis’ actually refer to? Being one of African governments’ largest creditor amassed from lending over the past two decades, China has invested in Africa more than any other government around the world and its investment is portrayed as a practice of ‘debt-trap’ diplomacy. 

Exploring the impact of Chinese investment on Africa’s infrastructural development, this episode engages with various interpretations of China’s investment in Africa, China’s practice of ‘debt-trap’ diplomacy and further contemplates the degree to which China is ‘good’ for Africa’s economy. From discussing the role of African governments’ acceptance of Chinese loans to China’s foreign policy towards Africa, join our moderator, Angela, and Min Jing, a writer from UCL Asiatic Affairs, together with Hafsa, Lisa, Larissa and Stephen from UCL African Conference, in a heated discussion, proffering a comprehensive introduction to current China-Africa relations. 

Music by scottholmesmusic.com