Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin - Kultur-, Sozial- und Bildungswissenschaftliche Fakultät - Institut für Asien- und Afrikawissenschaften

We cordially invite you to the next meeting of the Africa Colloquium.


Dr John Njenga Karugia (HU Berlin):
Infrastructures of Memory: EU-China Global Geopolitical Competition and its Effects on Africa - in cooperation with DE:LINK//RE:LINK Silk Road Talks


Abstract:

China and the European Union’s interests and competition across Africa are perceptible through various historical and contemporary infrastructure projects across the continent’s 55 countries. Infrastructure initiatives funded by China and the European Union are currently underway as both political actors strive to achieve their geopolitical interests. I shall argue that these infrastructure projects are ‘infrastructures of memory’ or what I call ‘legacy projects.’ The lecture will delve into motivations of both actors and I will compare and contrast concrete infrastructure projects taken from my current research on these actors' transregional infrastructure initiatives across Africa, Asia and Europe. The lecture will analyze local politics of various geographies where implementation of infrastructure projects is taking place. Focus will also be placed on local memory politics discourses and how these discourses shape the competition between China and the European Union. Finally, the effects of this competition shall be discussed.