African unity will remain illusionary without values
‘African unity’ has been one of the most consistent themes in African political thought. Since independence, the vision of a continental order stretching from Cape Town to Cairo and from Dakar to Dar es Salaam has been an entrancing one. Africa, rather than being a geographical descriptor, would be a geopolitical identity.
Aligning Sustainable Development Goals with climate-resilient growth
In December 2015 the UN will host the 21st annual Conference of Parties (COP 21) negotiations to achieve universal commitment to an ambitious, legally binding agreement on climate change.
Moving Beyond Africa’s Crisis of Institutions
This paper explains the dysfunctional state of African institutions and suggests possible interventions for effective and resilient institutions at the national, regional and continental level. It argues that institutional failure in Africa can be diagnosed at the conceptual and operational level.
Borderline growth: Kickstarting development in South Africa’s border towns
The city of Erenhot sits on the Mongolian border, five hours of desolate steppe tundra away from the nearest major Chinese city. In 1992, the town had a population of 8000, and was best known for its bizarre 80-foot archway of kissing sauropods, which bridges across a usually empty freeway.
The need for specialised investment courts
Sorting out a trade dispute can be a tricky thing. Nations may want to advance their economic interests but are reluctant to upset relations with another country over a dispute with a private investor.
South Africa’s foreign policy walks a fine line
Today, 5 October 2015, South African authorities are expected to submit their reasons for failing to arrest Sudanese President Al-Bashir when he attended the African Union Summit in June 2015.
From the Cape to Cairo? The Potential of the Tripartite Free Trade Area
This paper shows that there is a sound case for regional economic integration in the form of the Tripartite Free Trade Area (TFTA).
Raising the level of ambition towards a COP 21 outcome through nationally-determined mitigation pledges
In December 2015, the UN Framework Convention for Climate Change (UNFCCC) will host the 21st annual Conference of Parties (COP 21) negotiations to achieve universal commitment towards an ambitious, legally binding agreement on climate change. Over two weeks, 196 countries will be deliberating in Paris on the investment each is willing to make towards a common climate agenda.
South Africa and FOCAC: Enabling a Partnership for Global Economic Governance Beyond the BRICS?
In December 2015, South Africa will host the first Heads of State Summit of the Forum on China–Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) in Africa.
Aligning Africa’s Maritime Ambitions with Broader Indian Ocean Regionalism
Blue Economy initiatives have proliferated in recent years, reflecting the growing prioritisation of maritime affairs within the policymaking community.