Political Science Department Book Launch Reception

Book Launch

The Financial Statecraft of Borrowers: African Governments and External Finance

Alexandra O. Zeitz (Concordia University)

With comments by:

Vincent Arel-Bundock (Université de Montréal)

Juliet Johnson (McGill University)

Amy Poteete (Concordia University)

The discussion will be followed by a reception.

Wednesday, March 19, 2025

5:30 – 7:30pm

Hall Building, Room H-1220

As China rises to prominence as a global lender, what impact does this have on borrowing countries? In a context of deepening global financial integration and rising powers, this book examines how developing countries, specifically in sub-Saharan Africa, can use borrowing relationship to their advantage. Alexandra O. Zeitz reveals how these countries, once reliant on traditional donors, may now leverage Chinese loans and international sovereign bonds to enhance their bargaining power in aid negotiations – a strategy she terms the “financial statecraft of borrowers.” Grounded in extensive interviews with senior officials from recipient countries and donor agencies in Ethiopia, Ghana, and Kenya, and complemented by statistical analysis of aid agreements, The Financial Statecraft of Borrowers offers a comprehensive understanding of how aid relationships are changing along with the shifting landscape of international finance.

Alexandra O. Zeitz is Assistant Professor of Political Science at Concordia University. Her research focuses on international political economy, particularly developing countries' position in the international financial system.