Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs - West Africa

Strengthening African Governance: Results and Rankings 2008

Robert Rotberg and Rachel Gisselquist — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 12:15:49 -0500

October 6, 2008

All citizens of all countries desire to be governed well. That is what citizens want from the nation-states in which they live. Thus, nation-states in the modern world are responsible for the delivery of essential political goods to their inhabitants.

Strengthening African Governance: Small States and Islands Top 2008 Rankings

Robert Rotberg — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 14:10:05 -0500

October 5, 2008

Small states, island states, and Botswana and South Africa are the best governed countries in sub-Saharan Africa according to this year's Index of African Governance, released today by researchers at the Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University. Mauritius, an Indian Ocean island-state, tops the list of well-governed territories for the second year, the Seychelles is second, Cape Verde third, Botswana fourth, and South Africa fifth.

Africa Warms Up to Biotechnology

Ismail Serageldin and Calestous Juma — Thu, 15 Nov 2007 00:00:00 -0600

"Much of the debate about biotechnology in Africa assumes that African countries are only being asked to accept products developed elsewhere. To the contrary, Freedom to Innovate: Biotechnology in Africa’s Development shows that extensive biotechnology research is under way in Africa...."

Give African Universities Free Internet Access

Calestous Juma — Thu, 11 Oct 2007 00:00:00 -0500

"Africa (other than South Africa) is currently linked to the developed world by a single fiber-optic cable down the West Africa coast. It is the most digitally-isolated region on the globe."

The Virtues and Vices of Fixed Territorial Ownership

Boaz Atzili — Sun, 30 Sep 2007 00:00:00 -0500

Today, territorial ownership of states is essentially fixed, in marked contrast to earlier periods in history. This change has affected states in two very different ways. In regions in which most states are socio-politically strong, fixed territorial ownership is a blessing. It enhances peace, stability, and cooperation between states. In regions in which most states are socio-politically weak, however, fixed territorial ownership is largely a curse. It perpetuates and exacerbates states' weakness, and contributes to internal conflicts that often spill overacross international borders.

China Should Import Africa's Finished Goods

Calestous Juma — Thu, 27 Sep 2007 00:00:00 -0500

"China needs to complement its raw material imports with serious efforts that help African countries become exporters of finished goods to the Chinese market....There is a strategic starting point for China. The country has set up the US$5 billion China-Africa Development Fund that aims to eliminate tariffs on over 440 African export items and build several economic and trade cooperation zones across the continent."

Professor John P. Holdren Moderates the Energy & Climate Panel at the 2007 Clinton Global Initiative Annual Meeting

John P. Holdren — Thu, 27 Sep 2007 00:00:00 -0500

John P. Holdren, director of the Belfer Center's Science, Technology, and Public Policy Program, moderated the Energy & Climate panel "Stabilizing the Climate: Pathways to Success" at the Clinton Global Initiative Annual Meeting in New York on September 27, 2007.

Africa Needs Development Armies

Calestous Juma — Thu, 13 Sep 2007 00:00:00 -0500

"Africa could learn from other countries. The US Army Corps of Engineers has been instrumental in the construction and maintenance of critical infrastructure since its creation in the 1930s. Similarly, the Corps of Royal Engineers has a long record spanning 900 years of contributing to civilian infrastructure ."

Freedom to Innovate: Biotechnology in Africa's Development

Calestous Juma and Ismail Serageldin — Mon, 20 Aug 2007 00:00:00 -0500

"This report is about biotechnology and the role it can play for development in Africa. The report suggests specific and practical measures to advance development, quality of life and environmental sustainability using biotechnology."

Food Security, Agriculture, and Economic Growth: Opportunities for Cooperation between the United States and Sub-Saharan Africa

Calestous Juma — Wed, 18 Jul 2007 00:00:00 -0500

Testimony of Calestous Juma before the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, Subcommittee on Africa and Global Health, Hearing on Food Security in Africa: The Impact of Agricultural Development

Does the UN Still Matter?

Joseph S. Nye — Fri, 13 Jul 2007 00:00:00 -0500

"The UN is more an instrument of its member states than an independent actor in world politics."

Build Africa's Economic Foundations First

Calestous Juma — Fri, 06 Jul 2007 00:00:00 -0500

"African presidents have now returned home from Accra, Ghana, after discussing a critical issue for the future of Africa: the creation of a United States of Africa at the urging of Libya’s Muammar Gaddafi....Col Gaddafi has the right vision, but can correct his faulty strategy by helping to support the effective functioning of regional integration bodies, starting with northern and western Africa."

Peace through Dialogue

J. Martin Ramirez — Thu, 01 Mar 2007 00:00:00 -0600

The paper is dedicated to look at some major steps for achieving peace, through a better dialogue among people of other cultures andcivilizations, such as no speaking about past misdeeds, respect for others, tolerance of differences, a better knowledge and understanding of them, and attitudes toward real reconciliation.

The Gene Revolution: GM Crops and Unequal Development

Sakiko Fukuda-Parr — Thu, 30 Nov 2006 00:00:00 -0600

This is the first book to bridge the gap between the "naysayers" and "cheerleaders", and to provide a penetrating examination of the realities, complexities, benefits and pitfalls of GM adoption in developing countries that are desperately fighting poverty while trying to stay afloat in the hyper-competitive global economy.

Introduction: Genetically Modified Crops and National Development Priorities

Sakiko Fukuda-Parr — Thu, 30 Nov 2006 00:00:00 -0600

"Investing in agricultural technology increasingly turns up these days on lists of the top ten practical actions the rich world could take to contribute to reducing global poverty...."

Emergence and Global Spread of GM Crops: Explaining the Role of Institutional Change

Sakiko Fukuda-Parr — Thu, 30 Nov 2006 00:00:00 -0600

"Biotechnology enthusiasts emphasize the power of the new science to address a seemimgly endless array of constraints facing resource poor farmers. But the process of technological innovation depends as much on institutions as on the science...."

Ashton Carter appointed to Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice’s International Security Advisory Board

Mon, 06 Nov 2006 00:00:00 -0600

November 6, 2006

At a November 6, 2006 swearing-in at the State Department, Preventive Defense Project Co-Director and Kennedy School of Government professor Ashton B. Carter became a member of Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice’s International Security Advisory Board (ISAB) which is charged with providing advice on a wide range of issues affecting national security.

Agricultural Biotechnology for Development: Socioeconomic Issues and Institutional Challenges of Genetically Modified (GM) Crops in Developing Countries

Sakiko Fukuda-Parr and Calestous Juma — Mon, 22 Nov 2004 00:00:00 -0600

The objective of this collaborative research project is to identify the key institutional and socio-economic challenges for developing countries in taking up GM crops, based on a review of experiences in 8 countries. We aim to publish a volume putting together 6 country case studies in 2005.

Liberia: A Potential Model for Success

Robert Rotberg — Tue, 19 Aug 2003 00:00:00 -0500

August 19, 2003

Now that Charles Taylor has left Monrovia to President Moses Blah, reducing warfare in Liberia is a present possibility...