The China in Africa Podcast The Evolution of China-Africa Research and Where It’s Headed
Jul 11, 2025
Solange Guo Chatelard is a research associate at the Université Libre de Bruxelles and the executive director of the Chinese in Africa/Africans in China Research Network. She discusses the evolution of China-Africa research, highlighting how new scholars are integrating local narratives and challenging historical biases. Barriers like funding and institutional dominance remain significant. The conversation also explores the shift in educational perspectives among African students towards opportunities in China, emphasizing the need for 'China literacy' in addressing geopolitical complexities.
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Shift to African Agency Focus
- China-Africa research evolved from Western area studies to emphasizing African agency and Chinese perspectives.
- The field now includes more African academics, shifting from external observation to core stakeholder focus.
Matured Field Yet Western-Dominated
- New generation scholars are better trained, connected, and more ethnographically grounded.
- However, knowledge production remains Western-dominated, and language barriers limit diversity.
Access Challenges for China Scholars
- China studies scholars face increased political and visa pressures limiting access to China.
- Cross-border academic collaboration is hindered, undermining field development.
