A critical look at Chinese 'debt-trap diplomacy': the rise of a meme. Issue 1 (2nd January 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Brautigam, Deborah
• Is Part Of: Area development and policy. Volume 5:Issue 1(2020)
• Page Start: 1
• Page End: 14
• Publication Date: 2020-01-02
• Subjects: debt-trap diplomacy -- Chinese international involvement -- cinema -- ports -- Hambantota -- Djibouti -- Angolan ghost town; F02 -- F21 -- F30 -- O10 -- O18; 债务式陷阱外交；中国国际参与；电影院；港口；汉班托特；吉布提；安哥拉鬼城; diplomacia de la trampa del endeudamiento -- participación internacional de China -- cine -- puertos -- Hambantota -- Yibuti -- una ciudad fantasma en Angola; дипломатия долговой ловушки -- международная вовлеченность Китая -- кино -- порты -- Хамбантота -- Джибути -- ангольский город-призрак; Regional planning -- BRIC countries -- Periodicals; Economic development -- BRIC countries -- Periodicals; Rural-urban relations -- BRIC countries -- Periodicals; Human geography -- BRIC countries -- Periodicals; Regional planning -- Developing countries -- Periodicals; Economic development -- Developing countries -- Periodicals; Rural-urban relations -- Periodicals; Human geography -- Developing countries -- Periodicals; 338.90091724
• DOI: 10.1080/23792949.2019.1689828
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2379-2949

Abstract

ABSTRACT: In 2017, a meme was born in a think tank in northern India: Chinese 'debt-trap diplomacy'. This meme quickly spread through the media, intelligence circles and Western governments. Within 12 months it generated nearly 2 million search results on Google in 0.52 seconds and was beginning to solidify into a deep historical truth. Stories can contain truths and falsehoods. Human emotions, including negativity bias, prime us to think in certain ways. This paper retells a series of stories about China's international involvement, including in Angola, Djibouti, Sri Lanka and Venezuela, that challenge the media's spin. It concludes with some suggestions about the relationship between academia and the media and policy worlds, and the need for scholars to speak 'truth' to 'power'.