China in Africa: exposing myths

Professor Deborah Brautigam at the American University's International Development Program has started a much needed blog called China in Africa: the Real Story.

The aim of the blog is to provide accurate information on the vast topic of China in Africa which is experiencing a high degree of media hype.

As with anything that has to do with China transparency is often lacking and thus rumours spread easily often growing in proportion. Hopefully this blog can serve as a platform where people who have actual on the ground knowledge and research can confirm or refute numbers and rumours often cited in the media.

It is clear that "China in Africa" is the media fashion of the day, often a journalist will publish an ill researched article with some numbers thrown in and other journalists will catch on to the "news" reproducing the information over and over again spreading like a viral disease.

In short, be careful of believing any news articles on the topic of China in Africa as these often only use other news articles as sources.

Comments

[Ali2africa.blogspot.com]

Hey, I found your blog from a link on my Google news for the day about Mozambique. I lived in Moz for just under 5 years, had a wonderful experience. I'm really enjoying reading your blog - I think we know a couple of people in common, which isn't surprising. :) beijos.

[Shanghaisigrid]

thank you :)