Mandela and military force: the moment dictated the means

Saturday, 22 September 2018 marked the 20th anniversary of South Africa’s intervention in Lesotho – the first time a democratic South Africa deployed combat troops beyond its borders. To better understand this intervention Christopher Williams reflects back on President Nelson Mandela’s nuanced views on the use of military force.

China-Britain-Uganda: Trilateral Development Cooperation in Agriculture

Against the broader context of donor pluralism, trilateral development cooperation (TDC) has received renewed interest within development policy circles, with supporters arguing that TDC reflects the changing geographies of aid and helps to forge new, more equitable global development partnerships.

Debt trap? Chinese loans and Africa’s development options

Africa’s growing public debt has sparked a renewed global debate about debt sustainability on the continent. This is largely owing to the emergence of China as a major financier of African infrastructure, resulting in a narrative that China is using debt to gain geopolitical leverage by trapping poor countries in unsustainable loans.

Work, Employment, and Training Through Africa China Cooperation Zones: Evidence from the Eastern Industrial Zone in Ethiopia

This working paper investigates the developmental impacts of Ethiopia’s Eastern Industrial Zone (EIZ), with a particular focus on local employee experiences of working for, training with, and learning from resident companies. As an emerging mode of Africa-China cooperation, the promotion of Chinese special economic zones (SEZs) has attracted much academic and media attention.