Description

A collaboration between the African Studies and Asian Studies programs at Georgetown’s Walsh School of Foreign Service, ACI works to develop an international, interdisciplinary community of research and practice on Africa-China issues, with the aim to decrease “hyperbolic, simplistic, and binary representations of China’s engagement with the continent.” An HLF special grant in 2021 supported ACI’s pilot year.  Activities under this grant would further consolidate the program, with participation of new partners including Howard University’s Center for African Studies.  It would support faculty research, a visiting fellowship for a scholar from Africa, a virtual Africa-China-US student dialogue, student internships at the African Union, public events, and an experts working group, including Africans and Chinese, to engage with policymakers.      This grant would advance all of Asia’s Goals: 1 (Asian studies), 2 (Promote peace and cooperation between the US and Asia by ensuring that policymakers and other leaders have access to the people, organizations, information, and resources they need), 3 (Enhance public awareness of and engagement with Asians and Asian Americans), and 4 (border crossing).   ACI works closely with the Chinese in Africa/Africans in China Research Network, a transnational group of scholars, journalists and practitioners that 2013 and 2015 HLF grants to the Social Science Research Council helped to incubate.