The Ties That Bind: Identity, Emotion, and Everyday Work in Chinese Agricultural Aid—A Case Study of the China-Aided Agricultural Technology Demonstration Center in East Africa

Abstract

This paper explores the emotional and interpersonal dimensions of China’s agricultural aid by an ethnographic case study of a Chinese Agricultural Technology Demonstration Center in Country W, East Africa. Moving beyond macro-level analyses of foreign aid effectiveness, it focuses on the live experiences of Chinese agricultural experts and their daily interactions with the local staff. Through intensive fieldwork, the study reveals how aid implementation is shaped not only by institutional arrangements and technical tasks but also by emotional labor, identity transformation, and cross-cultural negotiation. The narrative highlights tensions, misunderstandings, and emotional adjustments required on both sides, especially between Chinese managers and local workers such as drivers and coordinators, as they navigate through shared responsibilities and divergent expectations. These micro-level dynamics often determine the success or failure of aid projects on the ground. The study ultimately argues for a more people-centered understanding of foreign aid, one that recognizes the importance of affective relationships, informal roles, and emotional resilience in the sustainability of international cooperation.