Joshua Eisenman

Joshua Eisenman, a politics professor at Notre Dame, and Caroline Costello, assistant director at the Atlantic Council, shed light on the rampant illegal resource extraction in West Africa, primarily driven by Chinese demand. They explore the complexities of local corruption and weak enforcement, yet present hope through innovative policy recommendations from a recent collaborative report. The discussion highlights the potential for African governments to improve accountability and the need for grassroots reporting to curb these illegal activities.

In this discussion, David H. Shinn, a former U.S. diplomat and expert on China-Africa relations, teams up with Joshua Eisenman, a Notre Dame politics professor specializing in China studies. They explore China's growing strategic engagement with Africa since 2012, emphasizing military cooperation, educational ties, and the significance of the Global South. The duo delves into the nuances of bilateral relations, Chinese soft power through media, and the implications for U.S.-Africa relations as they analyze the evolving geopolitical landscape.

Joshua Eisenman, a politics professor at the Keough School of Global Affairs, joins to discuss shifts in American soft power under President Trump. He highlights the U.S. retreat from global institutions and how this impacts its credibility. Eisenman explores how China is capitalizing on this moment to gain influence, emphasizing the effects on smaller countries caught in the U.S.-China rivalry. He also contrasts the U.S.'s transactional diplomacy with China's long-term relational strategies, providing insights into the changing global landscape.