Featuring
Deborah Brautigam
Professor of International Development and Comparative Politics, School of Advanced International Studies, Johns Hopkins University
With Discussant
David Shinn
Adjunct Professor, Elliott School of International Affairs, George Washington University
It is a widely held belief that the Chinese government and Chinese firms have played an active role in the recent rush for land acquisition in Africa, likely in an attempt to ensure food security at home. However, in this seminar, Deborah Brautigam will present a paper in which she and her co-author argue that there is little direct evidence to support this. Their research suggests that Chinese land acquisitions have thus far been quite limited, and focused on production for African consumption. Brautigam will trace the evolution of strategy and incentives for Chinese agricultural engagement in Africa, and examine more closely several of the more well known cases to contrast the perception of large-scale land acquisition in Africa with the reality on the ground.
*Following the move to our new home, CGD has renamed the Massachusetts Avenue Development Seminar series the CGD Invited Research Forum. Now in its thirteenth year, the series brings some of the world's leading development scholars to discuss their new research and ideas. The presentations meet an academic standard of quality and are at times technical, but retain a focus on a mixed audience of researchers and policymakers. For more on the history of the series, check out this blog by Michael Clemens.
