Chinese Investment and Aid in Cambodia

Lecture | November 4 | 12:30-2 p.m. | Institute of East Asian Studies (2223 Fulton), 6F Conference Room

Speaker: Michael Sullivan, Acting Director, Center for Khmer Studies

Sponsors: Southeast Asia Studies, Center for, Chinese Studies, Center for (CCS)

This talk investigates Chinese investment in Cambodia in the context of strengthening bilateral relations between the two countries. This talk suggests that Chinese investment, backed by China’s regional foreign policy goals, may create new rent-seeking opportunities for powerful political and economic networks within the Cambodian state, at the expense of the government’s reform agenda. At the same time, Chinese influence is unlikely to alter donor efforts to push the Cambodian government down the reform path. The upshot of Chinese investment and aid, for the foreseeable future, will be the further entrenchment of Cambodian state political elites and their business associates, alongside a continued government-donor dialogue that to date has failed to bring about substantive reform where it is needed most. This situation also raises a number of important questions concerning the overall long-term benefits that may or may not accrue to Cambodia from Chinese investment and aid.

Michael Sullivan is currently the Chief Operating Officer and Acting Director for the Center for Khmer Studies (CKS) in Siem Reap Cambodia. His doctoral research through the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) examined Cambodia’s political transition from 1993-2003. Since 2007, with support from the Association of South East Asian Studies United Kingdom, his research has concentrated on the impact of Chinese investment, aid and diplomacy on the Cambodian government’s commitment to western donor calls for democratic reform. He is particularly interested in the political and economic outcomes of interactions between the ruling Cambodian People’s Party and Chinese and local business elites and Cambodia’s development partners. His research paper will be published as a chapter in the forthcoming volume edited by Hughes and Un, "Cambodia’s Economic Transformation" (NIAS Press).

Event Contact: 510-642-3609