Blame and tone here absolutely slip into some Western ideologisms. The author is
FAR too forgiving of the World Bank, considering the implementations of SAPS imposed on African 'debt-relief' loans involved the deregulation of trade protections, the ending of price controls and subsidies, export-led economic policies, privatizations across the board and the ending of free health care and education. (The prevailing capitalist theory, of course, was economic growth would ultimately trickle down). So government healthcare programs collapsed and were replaced by western NGOs, and few families can afford to educate their children under the new systems (a thing mentioned many times, but without pointing out the reasons for such); illiteracy rates (which had been falling) have been rising again. But hey, at least the loans are getting paid back, right?

His discussion of Livingston is far too 'uncomplicated' and completely washes out the missionary focus of his presence and the continued mess western religions continue to inflict. He refuses to acknowledge that the aggressive misogyny he continues to note is primarily a byproduct of western colonialization and gender essentialism. 
 
It feels at times, like this is all ignored to point more aggressively at China (unquestionably culpable as well) but leads the books to and overall feeling of being misguided at times.