London : Zed Books/Nordiska Afrikainstitutet

The Rise of China and India in Africa : Challenges, Opportunities and Critical Interventions

Medarbetare:	Cheru, Fantu | Obi, Cyril
Utgivare:	London : Zed Books/Nordiska Afrikainstitutet
År:	2010
Ämnesord:	Foreign relations, international economic relations, Foreign investment, natural resources, Geopolitics, Economic and social development, South south relations, South south trade, China, India, Africa, Political science, Statsvetenskap

In recent years, China and India have become the most important economic partners of Africa and their footprints are growing by leaps and bounds, transforming Africa's international relations in a dramatic way. Although the overall impact of China and India's engagement in Africa has been positive in the short-term, partly as a result of higher returns from commodity exports fuelled by excessive demands from both countries, little research exists on the actual impact of China and India's growing involvement on Africa's economic transformation. This book examines in detail the opportunities and challenges posed by the increasing presence of China and India in Africa, and proposes critical interventions that African governments must undertake in order to negotiate with China and India from a stronger and more informed platform.

Biofuels, Land Grabbing and Food Security in Africa

Medarbetare:	Havnevik, Kjell | Matondi, Prosper B. | Beyene, Atakilte
Utgivare:	London : Zed Books/Nordiska Afrikainstitutet
År:	2011
Ämnesord:	Biomass energy, Fuels, Energy resources, Food supply, Food security, Land tenure, Property rights. Africa, Tanzania, SOCIAL SCIENCES, SAMHÄLLSVETENSKAP

Energy crisis and climate change have generated global demands for alternative non-fossil fuel sources. This has led to a rapid increase of investments in production of liquid biofuels based on agricultural feed stocks such as sugar cane. Most African governments see biofuels as a potential for increasing agricultural productivity and export incomes and thus strengthening their national economies, improving energy balances and rural employment. At the same time climate change may be addressed through reduction of green house gas emissions. There are, however, a number of uncertainties mounting that challenge this scenario. Using in-depth African case studies this book addresses this knowledge gap by examining the impacts of large-scale biofuel production on African agriculture in regard to vital land outsourcing and food security issues. The surge for African biofuels has also opened space for private investors both domestic and external to multiply and network 'independently' of the state. The biofuel expansion thus generates new economic alliances and production relations, resulting in new forms of inclusions and exclusions within the rural population. An essential book for anyone wishing to understand the startling impact of biofuels and land outsourcing on Africa.