Yet the very definition of FDI is far from neutral: it shapes how investment is measured, understood, and ultimately governed. The rise of South–South flows has exposed the limits of standard definitions devised in Western contexts, and built around large multinational corporations.

This webinar reconsiders FDI through an empirically grounded, decolonial lens by focusing on Chinese investment in Africa. Drawing on over a decade of multi-country fieldwork and dozens of interviews, we show how hybrid ownership structures, informal practices, and fluid investor identities challenge the binary categories of 'foreign' versus 'domestic'. We argue that prevailing frameworks not only misclassify such investments but also potentially distort assessments of their developmental impact. To address this, we advance the notion of flexible operationalisation; a context-sensitive approach to FDI that recognises diverse investment trajectories and embedded practices. In doing so, the webinar opens a dialogue between decolonial critiques of development and FDI studies, calling for a rethinking of both the epistemological foundations and the methodological tools that underpin global investment analysis.

At the EUI and the Robert Schuman Centre, we are dedicated to removing barriers and providing equal opportunities for everyone. Please indicate in the registration form your accessibility needs, if any. Alternatively, you can contact the logistics organiser of the event.