Ambassador David Shinn to Lecture on China and Africa at W&L on Oct. 22
David Shinn, professor at the Elliott School of International Affairs at George Washington University and former U.S. ambassador to Burkina Faso and Ethiopia, will give two public lectures at Washington and Lee University.
Shinn will speak on “China and Africa: An Evolving Relationship” on Oct. 22 at 5 p.m. in Hillel 101. In this lecture, Shinn will discuss aspects of China’s growing relationship with the 54 countries of Africa, including an analysis of China’s interests in Africa and a comparison with U.S. interests in the continent.
On Oct. 23, his second lecture, “China’s Investment in Africa: Environmental Implications and the Law,” will be at 12:15 p.m. in Classroom C in the Washington and Lee University School of Law. Shinn will describe the nature of China’s foreign direct investment (FDI) and where it has the greatest impact, the relative concern in Africa and China about the environment, the approach Chinese companies take towards the environment as they invest in Africa, and the environmental law and practice.
Shinn has been teaching at George Washington University since 2001. Previously, he spent 37 years in the U.S. Foreign Service, with assignments in Lebanon, Kenya, Tanzania, Mauritania, Cameroon, Sudan and as ambassador to Burkina Faso and Ethiopia.
He is the author of “Hizmet in Africa: The Activities and Significance of the Gülen Movement” (2015) and is coauthor of “China and Africa: A Century of Engagement” (2012) and “Historical Dictionary of Ethiopia” (2013). He is the author of numerous book chapters and articles in academic and policy journals. Shinn blogs at davidshinn.blogspot.com.
His lectures are two of several in a year-long seminar titled Human Rights in Africa: A Transdisciplinary Approach. The seminar has been made possible by the Center for International Educational with funds from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. Other events include public lectures, book colloquia, a winter term film series and a workshop for high school students.
