Nigeria and the BRICS: Current and Potential Trade Relations and their Implications for the Nigerian Economy
This paper analyses Nigeria’s trade relations with Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa (the BRICS countries), focusing on the patterns, intensity and complementarity of trade as well as its impact on economic performance.
Southern Africa’s Dryland Forests and Climate Change Adaptation
The interior of Southern Africa, encompassing significant areas of drylands, will be severely impacted by climate change.
Africa’s Extractive Governance Architecture: Lessons to Inform a Shifting Agenda
Careful reflection is needed in examining options for streamlining and capacitating the myriad Africa-led initiatives that have emerged recently in the area of resource governance.
The Reed that Lies Low in a Flooded River: Swazi Resistance to South African Reform Diplomacy
This policy briefing examines the extent to which South Africa has used its economic clout to influence the political situation in Swaziland since 1994.
Minefields of Marikana: Prospects for Forging a New Social Compact
The platinum belt is arguably a microcosm of the South African political economy, providing analysts with an opportunity to explore fault lines in the latter two decades after the end of apartheid.
China and Liberia: Engagement in a Post-Conflict Country 2003–2013
Once labelled by the international community as a failed state, Liberia has enjoyed something of a renaissance since it held its first truly democratic elections in 2005.
South Africa’s 20 Years of Soft Power Crescendos
2014 marks two decades since the end of apartheid and the establishment of a constitutional democracy in South Africa. The manner of the country’s transformation to democracy imbued it with soft power of legitimacy and credibility that provided it with unique leverage in global affairs. Coupled with its willingness to become an active global citizen, South Africa has used this soft power in its foreign policy.
Trade policy and the 2014 elections
With a persistently high unemployment rate, building an economy that provides opportunities for all is extremely important to all the political parties contesting the 2014 South African general election.
Rwandan Genocide-20 Years On: Remembering the importance of collective efforts towards political accountability
The 20th commemoration of the Rwandan genocide this year offers an apt opportunity to reflect on how far Africa has come in preventing a reoccurrence of such a tragedy.
‘Oil for Housing’: Chinese-built New Towns in Angola
China has gained a foothold in the African construction sector through the provision of ‘resources for infrastructure’ loans. The dominance of Chinese companies is particularly evident in mega projects such as railways, major transportation arteries, public buildings, etc.