Professor Deborah Bräutigam is Professor in the School of International Service, American University. Her research focuses on China-Africa relations, foreign aid, industrialization, state-building, and development. She is the author of The Dragon's Gift: The Real Story of China in Africa(Oxford University Press, 2009) as well as publications on foreign aid and governance; taxation and state-building; global networks and comparative development in Africa and Asia.”

Prof. Bräutigam visited Hong Kong during 6-7 May 2012. A dinner is hosted by CEERP to welcome her. On 7 May 2012, Prof. Bräutigam gave talks to Hong Kong Forum and HKUST.

The abstract of the talk to the Hong Kong Forum:

Title: China and Africa: Think Again

Abstract: What is China really doing in Africa? Media headlines about huge aid packages propping up pariah regimes, land grabs, regiments of Chinese labor, and the ruthless exploitation of workers and natural resources in some of the poorest countries in the world have sparked fierce debates. But is this the real story? Deborah Brautigam, author of The Dragon's Gift: The Real Story of China in Africa, draws on three decades of research on China in Africa to sort out the myths and the realities of Chinese engagement.

The talk to HKUST:

Title:  "Economic statecraft in China’s new overseas special economic zones: Soft power, business, or resource security?"

Abstract: China' growing economic engagement with other developing countries has aroused heated debates. Yet there has been relatively little research on when, how, and why the Chinese state intervenes in the overseas economic activities of its firms. We examine China’s program to establish overseas special economic zones as one tool of Beijing’s economic statecraft. We trace the process by which they were established and implemented, and we investigate the characteristics of the 19 initial zones. China’s state-sponsored economic diplomacy in other developing countries could play three major strategic roles: strengthening resource security, enhancing political relationships and soft power, and boosting commercial opportunities for national firms. We conclude that even in countries rich in natural resources, the overseas zones are overwhelmingly positioned as commercial projects and represent a clear case of the international projection of China’s developmental state. In Africa (but not generally elsewhere), they also enhance China's soft power.

People attended the 6 May dinner (in photo):

Front (From Left to Right):
Mr. Cupertino Gourgel, Consul General of Angola, Consulate General of Angola
Prof. David Zweig, Associate Dean of School of Humanities and Social Science, HKUST
Prof. Deborah Brautigam, Professor of International Development, School of International Service, American University
Dr. Oladele Abiodun, Consul of Nigeria, Consulate General of Nigeria
Ms. Annikki Arponen, Consul General of Finland, Consulate General of Finland in Hong Kong SAR

Back (From Left to Right):
Mr. Charles Lee, Research Director, North Asia, Managing Editor, ACGA Regional Briefing, Asian Corporate Governance Association
Ms. Carine Kiala, Advisor, Consulate General of Angola, Consulate General of Angola
Prof. Barry Sautman, Associate Professor, Division of Social Science, HKUST
Mr. J. Ian Burchett, Consul General of Canada, Consulate General of Canada
Prof.  Jean-PierreCabestan, Head of Department of Government & International Studies, Hong Kong Baptist University
Dr. Frank Ching, Columnist, SCMP, Adjunct Associate Professor, Dept of History, Chinese University of Hong Kong