Guerrilla History Ownership of Development, China in Africa, and AFRICOM (Part 2) w/ Takiyah Harper-Shipman [Remastered]
Dec 12, 2025
In this discussion, Takiyah Harper-Shipman, an Assistant Professor at Davidson College and expert in Africana political economy, delves into the complexities of development in Africa. She critiques the concept of 'ownership of development', highlighting the challenges posed by donor dynamics and the misleading 'Africa Rising' narrative. Takiyah also explores China’s dual role in Africa, questioning whether its practices are imperialistic. Furthermore, she analyzes AFRICOM’s connection to U.S. resource strategies and the implications for local practices and governance.
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Ownership Masks Donor Control
- "Ownership" in development is framed by the World Bank to shift responsibility to developing governments while preserving neoliberal policies.
- The Comprehensive Development Framework repackaged donor control as 'government ownership' to maintain IMF/World Bank influence.
Government Official 'Drank The Kool-Aid'
- Takiyah recounts a Kenyan official correcting her: donors are now "partners," not donors, during an interview.
- The official admitted the label mattered more than real power changes.
'Africa Rising' Obscures Unequal Growth
- The 'Africa Rising' story mistook resource-driven GDP spikes for inclusive development and hid persistent inequality.
- Growth mainly came from raw-material extraction benefiting foreign firms and volatile markets.
