CWP alum, Austin Strange, on European Guanxi Podcast "USAID: Will China Step into the Vacuum?"
In this episode, we speak with Dr. Austin Strange about the shifting landscape of global development aid following the Trump administration’s executive order pausing USAID for review. The conversation explores why Chinese development aid has become a central feature of global development finance, which countries it targets, and how it supports Beijing’s broader soft-power strategy. We also discuss recent adjustments in China’s aid approach, the implications for countries with deep historical ties to U.S. assistance—such as Laos—and how the suspension of USAID programs affects America’s global reputation and influence.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=yYdgCq3VNbs
Austin Strange is Associate Professor of International Relations in the Department of Politics and Public Administration. He researches and teaches Chinese foreign policy, international political economy, and international development. Austin’s research mainly focuses on China’s historical and contemporary roles in the world economy.
Austin is a Public Intellectuals Program Fellow with the National Committee on US-China Relations from 2023–2025. Previously he was a Wilson China Fellow at the Wilson Center and a fellow with the Columbia-Harvard China and the World Program. He received a Ph.D. in Government from Harvard University, M.A. from Zhejiang University, and B.A. from William & Mary.
Austin received HKU’s Early Career Teaching Award in 2022, Research Output Prize in 2023, and Outstanding Young Researcher Award in 2024. With colleagues he was awarded the Best New Dataset Award from the International Political Economy Society.
Photo Credit: https://podcasts.apple.com/fr/podcast/usaid-will-china-step-into-the-vacuum-with-dr-austin-strange/id1790589538?i=1000741186940
