Year:2023   Volume: 8   Issue: 2   Area: International Relations  

249
Karen Ferreira-Meyers
Book Review: Wei Ye, China’s Education Aid to Africa: Fragmented Soft Power, London: Routledge, 2023, pp.37-38.
 
In China’s Education Aid to Africa, Ye navigates the complex terrain of China’s engagement with Africa through the lens of education aid, offering a critical realist examination with a specific focus on Ethiopia. The preface sets the stage, highlighting misconceptions about China’s soft power strategy in Africa and underscores the lack of a clear overarching strategy. The subsequent chapters delve into the theoretical foundations, perspectives on foreign aid, and existing research on China’s education aid to Africa, ultimately presenting a transformative model for understanding China’s distinctive approach. The author expresses gratitude for the support received during fieldwork in Ethiopia, conducted amidst the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. This personal touch adds depth to the narrative, offering readers insight into the researcher’s experiences and the real-world implications of studying soft power dynamics during a global crisis.

Keywords: China, Soft Power, Ethiopia, Africa, Education, Aid

https://doi.org/10.24819/netsol2023.12
 
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