Development Aid Confronts Politics

Developmental change is an inherently political process and development aid must necessarily be politically informed and politically engaged to be successful.

Tanzanian Pearl

China continues to invest in the development of new ports all across the Indian Ocean littoral, including as far west as Africa.

Are All States Failing States?

The Failed States Index offers an important barometer of governance and stability, and it succeeds in triggering an annual vigorous debate about places that usually get too little attention in the halls of power.

Good News on World Poverty

World poverty in 2010 was half of what it was in 1990, and the number of people living in poverty has fallen throughout the globe.

Threat of Militancy in Nigeria

The suicide bombing carried out by Boko Haram at the United Nations building in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital, marked a growing internationalization of the activities of the Muslim militant sect based in Nigeria’s northeast.

Democracy Promotion in the Age of Rising Powers

A more multipolar world could benefit democracy, but rising democracies are hesitant to engage in international democracy support. Encouraging these countries to do more to support democracy abroad should be a priority, but it will not be easy.

Terrorism Out of Somalia

The violence and insecurity in Somalia has spread beyond its borders through piracy, arms deals, human trafficking, and terrorism, and Washington lacks good policy options to confront this growing global threat.

The Nile in Crisis – The End of Egypt’s Soft Power

During the last two decades, Egypt has distanced itself from Africa and the countries of the Nile basin by de-prioritizing them within a foreign policy framework and limiting its economic, commercial, and cultural ties with them.

Biofuels Threaten Food Security for the Poor

International food prices remain high and the use of food commodities for biofuels production is increasing, aggravating the food security problem of the poor.

The Malawi Model

Unless the global aid community reverses its support of agricultural privatization and begins to cultivate Malawi-style state subsidies, continuing localized food crises may transform into an unprecedented global famine.

Perilous Desert: Insecurity in the Sahara

The Sahara suffers from a perfect storm of weaknesses. Foreign assistance that relies exclusively on counterterrorism will only exacerbate the problems.

The Paranoid Neighbor: Algeria and the Conflict in Mali

As the crisis in Mali threatens to grow into a full-fledged regional security and humanitarian nightmare, nervous neighboring countries are looking to Algeria to lead a conflict management effort.

Organized Crime and Conflict in the Sahel-Sahara Region

State complicity with organized crime is at the heart of instability in the Sahel and Sahara region, fomenting conflict and fueling the rise of al-Qaeda.

Whither Africa?

After stagnating for decades, economic growth in Africa has accelerated, but maintaining this rapid growth is far from guaranteed. Policy makers must build on past successes and tackle tough reforms before the world’s poorest continent can make sustained economic progress.

The Impact of the Doha Round on Kenya

The ongoing Doha Round of trade negotiations could improve Kenya’s competitive position in processed food and agriculture, but long-term development requires the strengthening of other economic sectors.

Book Review: A Swamp Full of Dollars

Author Michael Peel offers a 360-degree look at Nigeria, a country he describes as a "brittle motor of 21st-century capitalism." As Peel documents, the root of Nigeria's troubles springs from the ground: oil.

Africa's Big States: Toward a New Realism

Countries with a combination of a large land mass and a sizeable population tend to be chronically unstable politically and economically. Allowing their problems to fester, the case all too often in the past, is a source of continuing hardship to their citizens and neighbors alike. The international community needs to consider a new approach to the problems of these nations.

Less Is Better: An Agenda for Africa

In the 1990s, the Clinton administration led the international community in pursuit of a grand vision of reforming African countries into modern free-market democracies. That vision, however, was a poor match for the reality of conflict and stagnation on the ground. U.S. resources fell short of the rhetoric, and the policy yielded few results.

Emerging Markets Unite!

A new initiative by the BRICS coalition of emerging countries, intended to establish a new development bank, will rival traditional development groups such as the IMF and World Bank and may shift the balance of power of the world's economy.

Power Outage

Power has become more fleeting and transient, with a number of different kinds of constraints limiting the abilities of those in power, whether countries, corporations, churches, or armies.

Islamists in the Sahel

The conflict in northern Mali cannot be solved by a military solution alone. Any effort to end the violence will have to utilize diplomatic and political components to address the grievances of the groups that have taken up arms.

The Next World Bank President

The new World Bank president, an American once again, was selected through a process that was far from competitive. However, the presence of two developing world candidates in this year's field may be a sign that the tide is turning.

The World Bank Head Hunt

Over three dozen ex-World Bank officials have backed Nigerian finance minister Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala's bid for the World Bank's presidency. But does she stand a real chance of becoming the institution's first non-U.S. leader?

Inside the World Bank

Over the past several decades, the World Bank has broadened its approach to growth and poverty reduction by moving beyond hard infrastructure initiatives to systemic reforms in education and health care and the development of social safety nets.

President Bush on BBC World News America

The United States and China in Africa: Crossroads for Cooperation or a Theatre for Competition?

Africa remains both a challenge and opportunity for both China and the United States. China’s surge in trade and investment in Africa has left critical questions for U.S., African, and Chinese policies.

Chinese Migration to Tanzania in a Transnational and Translocal Context

China’s presence has brought great challenges and opportunities for Africa’s developing countries.

Sudan in Conflict

Less than one year after the formal split between Sudan and South Sudan, the two countries are again wrapped in conflict with one another at the same time as they face severe internal turmoil.

The Crisis in Northern Mali

While much attention has been focused on the crisis provoked by the March 22 coup in Mali's capital, events in the northern part of the country may have greater regional implications.

China and India’s Regional Diplomacy

China and India are frequently compared at the economic level, often ignoring the wider spectrum of their regional diplomacy and international engagement.

Soaring Food Prices: Causes, Consequences, and Remedies

After a relatively short-lived decline during the Great Recession, international food prices have soared again and reached a record-high in recent months. This price surge, coupled with a dramatic spike in the price of oil, is causing great hardship for the world’s poor households.

Is the African Renaissance for Real?

Economic growth in Africa has accelerated remarkably since the turn of the century, reflecting a rise in commodity prices as well as better macroeconomic policies, increased openness, and fewer conflicts.

The Arms Trade Treaty: Leveling the Playing Field

While many of the world’s nonproliferation measures concentrate on weapons of mass destruction, the majority of damage and deaths continues to come from conventional weapons.

Partnering with Africa: U.S. and India's Perspectives

Foreign investors interested in Africa are facing similar risks and opportunities to those they faced when investing in India. By partnering on investment and business activities, the United States and India can help Africa get the necessary resources to spur economic development.

Do the Millennium Development Goals Miss the Point in Africa?

The financial crisis, climate change, political and social instability, and persistent inequality have worsened the odds that Africa—and others in the developing world—will meet the Millennium Development Goals.

Development Aid Confronts Politics

Developmental change is an inherently political process and development aid must necessarily be politically informed and politically engaged to be successful.

Perilous Desert: Insecurity in the Sahara

The Sahara suffers from a perfect storm of weaknesses. Foreign assistance that relies exclusively on counterterrorism will only exacerbate the problems.

Emerging Markets Unite!

A new initiative by the BRICS coalition of emerging countries, intended to establish a new development bank, will rival traditional development groups such as the IMF and World Bank and may shift the balance of power of the world's economy.

Tanzanian Pearl

China continues to invest in the development of new ports all across the Indian Ocean littoral, including as far west as Africa.

Power Outage

Power has become more fleeting and transient, with a number of different kinds of constraints limiting the abilities of those in power, whether countries, corporations, churches, or armies.

The United States and China in Africa: Crossroads for Cooperation or a Theatre for Competition?

Africa remains both a challenge and opportunity for both China and the United States. China’s surge in trade and investment in Africa has left critical questions for U.S., African, and Chinese policies.

Islamists in the Sahel

The conflict in northern Mali cannot be solved by a military solution alone. Any effort to end the violence will have to utilize diplomatic and political components to address the grievances of the groups that have taken up arms.

Chinese Migration to Tanzania in a Transnational and Translocal Context

China’s presence has brought great challenges and opportunities for Africa’s developing countries.

The Paranoid Neighbor: Algeria and the Conflict in Mali

As the crisis in Mali threatens to grow into a full-fledged regional security and humanitarian nightmare, nervous neighboring countries are looking to Algeria to lead a conflict management effort.

Organized Crime and Conflict in the Sahel-Sahara Region

State complicity with organized crime is at the heart of instability in the Sahel and Sahara region, fomenting conflict and fueling the rise of al-Qaeda.