Open lecture with Stacey Links

In this talk, Dr. Stacey Links will give insight into the foundations, frameworks and futures of Africa-China relations. Starting by outlining key assumptions in our understanding of Africa-China relations, Dr. Links will unpack how these are informed by particular frameworks or theories of understanding these engagements. Added to this is the important role of discourse and representations that inform our assumptions about the nature of Africa-China engagement. On this basis, the talk will circle back to make sense of Africa-China engagement by looking at its origins and key moments of importance through its historical and contemporary configurations. Through this it will highlight some of the key challenges in ‘making sense’ of Africa-China engagement, and finally reflect on these for our understanding (both theoretical and practical) of the future of these relations.

 

Bio: Dr. Stacey Links is Assistant Professor at Leiden University’s Institute of Area Studies in the Netherlands where she gives a specialised course for MA students on China-Africa relations in a Changing Global Order. She is also the programme lead for Africa-China at the African Climate Foundation, the first African-led foundation working at the nexus of climate change and development. Over the years her research has focused on the human rights dimension of China-Africa engagement, looking at the right to development in particular, as well as the issue of African agency in China-Africa relations. She is particularly interested in how discourses of human rights, International Relations, and development shape our understanding and decision-making around these relations. As a South Africa, Dr. Links has had a range of experience working in human rights and development sectors in South Africa, Senegal, Ghana, Haiti, and the Netherlands. She regularly weighs in as an expert for International Organisations as well as National Governments on the dynamics of China-Africa cooperation and its implications.

Welcome!