The arms industry: fuelling conflict The world’s biggest arms fair, which turned 20 in 2019, is lauded as a ‘fantastic showcase’ by its British hosts, but critics strongly disagree The Defence and Security Equipment...
Algeria
A revolution of the aspiring bourgeoisie
African communism: a pragmatic approach Communism was not a decisive force anywhere in Africa until the cold war made the continent a priority for the Soviet Union A high level of industrialisation is, according to...
A long and winding road
China: the special relationship Economic and political ties between Africa and China have led to infrastructural development on a monumental scale but their roots go back millennia No one knows exactly how long ago the...
The ancient libraries of Africa
Africa: the written word Africa’s great libraries are stories of state formation and empires, and of people who thirsted for knowledge Reading and writing are miraculous activities; they transform the human condition,...
Sub-Saharan Africa: Islamic investment
The Islamic world is increasingly seeing Africa as a destination for foreign investment, both on the institutional and corporate fronts. One sign of such interest was the recent forum on investments in Africa,...
China in Africa: Chinese FDI
China likes to position its engagement with Africa as that of one developing region assisting another. However, Beijing sometimes claims that it is “just another market player” on the continent — often as a retort to...
