The Dragons Gift, Deborah Brautigam
The Dragons Gift, Deborah Brautigam
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The Dragon's Gift
The Real Story of China in Africa

Author: Deborah Brautigam

Narrator: Pam Ward

Unabridged: 14 hr 45 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Publisher: Tantor Media

Published: 12/25/2018


Synopsis

Is China a rogue donor, as some media pundits suggest? Or is China helping the developing world pave a pathway out of poverty, as the Chinese claim? In the last few years, China's aid program has leapt out of the shadows. Media reports about huge aid packages, support for pariah regimes, regiments of Chinese labor, and the ruthless exploitation of workers and natural resources in some of the poorest countries in the world sparked fierce debates. These debates, however, took place with very few hard facts. China's tradition of secrecy about its aid fueled rumors and speculation, making it difficult to gauge the risks and opportunities provided by China's growing embrace.

This well-timed book, by one of the world's leading experts, provides the first comprehensive account of China's aid and economic cooperation overseas. Deborah Brautigam tackles the myths and realities, explaining what the Chinese are doing, how they do it, how much aid they give, and how it all fits into their "going global" strategy. Drawing on three decades of experience in China and Africa, and hundreds of interviews in Africa, China, Europe and the US, Brautigam shines new light on a topic
of great interest.

About Deborah Brautigam

Deborah Brautigam is the author of Chinese Aid and African Development, Aid Dependence and Governance, and coeditor of Taxation and State-Building in Developing Countries. A long-time observer of Asia and Africa, she has lived in China, West Africa and Southern Africa, and traveled extensively across both regions as a Fulbright researcher and consultant for the World Bank, the UN, and other development agencies. She is a professor in the International Development Program at American University's School of International Service in Washington, D.C.


Reviews

Goodreads review by ☘Misericordia☘ on May 17, 2018

Have you ever considered that the efforts of China may constitute a lifeline for the African nations? I, for one, never considered it in those terms! Here goes some brainfood. Hands down 5 stars for a very fair endeavour to excercise critical thinking and to see both sides of the equation. A lot of......more

Goodreads review by Mike on October 06, 2012

An interesting book, though not one I would recommend to many. It's long and academic, so you have to be interested in the subject. I was certainly interested in the subject myself, though. China's engagement with Africa is something I have seen first hand in Malawi, Zambia, and Uganda -- and many o......more

Goodreads review by Daniel on October 09, 2020

What if the Economist, IMF and European Parliament are wrong in their understanding of the situation of Chinese aid to Africa? This is written by Brautigam, an American scholar who speaks Chinese and travels to Africa frequently. China Aid is: 1. Modelled after Japanese aid to China decades ago. 2. M......more

Goodreads review by Sebastian on October 19, 2023

The rating represents the book's value when it was published (~2010). Unfortunately, it was over ten years ago, and many have happened since then, so feel free to subtract 1 star. My comments: 1. A lot of detail. I mean - A LOT LOT. At times, it felt overwhelming. 2. The author definitely knows what sh......more

Goodreads review by Meihan on November 19, 2016

A little outdated since it was written and published before 2010 and during the Hu-Wen Administration. But, wow, thank you, Ms. Brautigam, for the conclusion part.......more