News
New Publication: Non-state legitimation as practice: the multiplicit making of public authority in Afro-Chinese engagements
10 February 2026
A new article co-authored by Kathy Dodworth (King's College London) and Jana Hönke (University of Bayreuth) has been published. The the article examines Chinese companies and social organizations in African contexts and proposes a practice-based, dynamic approach to legitimacy beyond traditional frameworks.
The piece "Non-state legitimation as practice: the multiplicit making of public authority in Afro-Chinese engagements" explores how non-state actors build and negotiate legitimacy in Afro-Chinese engagements.
This research was supported by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) – German Research Foundation, and builds on earlier collaborative work on legitimation practices by NGOs, social organizations, and companies in a changing world order.