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.
Corporate Social Responsibility in South Africa’s Mining Industry: An Assessment
The corporate social responsibility (CSR) agenda has been a part of the global debate on socio-economic development for many decades. Countless claims have been made that CSR can contribute towards more inclusive development and the alleviation of poverty.
Steps southern Africa can take to reach the new development goals
When the Southern African Development Community (SADC) launched its cross-border HIV/AIDS initiative in 2012, mobile clinics were set up at border posts across the region. Anyone living in these areas or travelling through could freely access the clinics for primary health care.
Beyond naval interventions in Somali piracy
In 2011, at the height of piracy attacks along the Somali coastline and the Gulf of Aden, 237 separate attacks were reported. This figure has fallen drastically over the years, with only 12 attacks being reported in 2014. This decline has been attributed to the collective efforts of the international community to address Somali piracy.