Executive Director Jean-Marc F. Blanchard Participates in “Mapping Fictitious Narratives: The Circulation and Persistence of the Chinese Debt Trap Narrative” at the University of Denver

In early October, Dr. Jean-Marc F. Blanchard, Founding Executive Director of the Mr. & Mrs. S.H. Wong Center for the Study of Multinational Corporations (Wong MNC Center) participated in a workshop entitled “Mapping Fictitious Narratives: The Circulation and Persistence of the Chinese Debt Trap Narrative” at the University of Denver’s Korbel School of International Studies (USA). This workshop, which drew individuals from academic, research center/think tank policymakers, and government from around the world, pondered the birth, spread, and persistence of the Chinese “debt trap” narrative. Dr. Blanchard offered his thoughts about the persistence of the narrative, the downsides of its continued use, and the ways business associations and countries are dealing with it. He also identified some shortcomings regarding analyses of the narrative’s persistence and suggested some potentially fruitful case studies for understanding its persistence.