Introduction to Africa Wolfram Latsch Henry M. Jackson School of International Studies University of Washington EARC Workshop | China-Africa Relations | 14 May 2011
Where is Africa?
Africa Precolonial Polities
Africa Precolonial Polities c.1880
Africa Partition at Berlin 1885
Africa After Independence
Africa’s Performance since Independence
Snapshot: Development Disparities
Africa after Independence: Three Different Periods of Economic Growth
Africa’s Four Anti-Growth Syndromes 1.Aggressive control and regulatory policies distort the economy and create poor environment for markets and business (exchange rates, inflation, tariffs, corruption) World Bank. Political Economy of Economic Growth in Africa
Africa’s Anti-Growth Syndromes 2. Ethnic and regional redistribution polarizes politics and economics, raises the stakes of politics, increases the likelihood that groups will fight for control of the state. World Bank Political Economy of Economic Growth in Africa
Africa’s Anti-Growth Syndromes 3.Sacrificing the income of future generations by unsustainable borrowing and spending (trade deficits, debt) World Bank Political Economy of Economic Growth in Africa
Africa’s Anti-Growth Syndromes 4.State and government fragility and breakdown during conflict (breakdown in the delivery of public goods like law + order, defense, infrastructure etc.) World Bank Political Economy of Economic Growth in Africa
Polity IV. Global Report 2009.
Steven Radelet. Emerging Africa Botswana Burkina Faso Cape Verde Ethiopia Ghana Lesotho Mali Mauritius Mozambique Namibia Rwanda Sao Tome & Principe Seychelles South Africa Tanzania Uganda Zambia Botswana Burkina Faso Cape Verde Ethiopia Ghana Lesotho Mali Mauritius Mozambique Namibia Rwanda Sao Tome & Principe Seychelles South Africa Tanzania Uganda Zambia
Steven Radelet. Emerging Africa Botswana Burkina Faso Cape Verde Ethiopia Ghana Lesotho Mali Mauritius Mozambique Namibia Rwanda Sao Tome & Principe Seychelles South Africa Tanzania Uganda Zambia Botswana Burkina Faso Cape Verde Ethiopia Ghana Lesotho Mali Mauritius Mozambique Namibia Rwanda Sao Tome & Principe Seychelles South Africa Tanzania Uganda Zambia Average Income Growth per capita3.2% Cumulative Increase in Average Real Income50%
Emerging Africa: Five Fundamental Changes 1.Rise of more democratic and accountable governments | 3 in 1989 → 23 in More sensible and sustainable economic policies | reduction in anti-growth syndromes 3.End of the debt crisis after ~ 25 years | greater country ownership of reforms 4.New technologies | cell phones in markets and politics 5.New generations | policymakers, activists, business leaders Steven Radelet. Emerging Africa
Emerging Africa: Other Changes 1.Agricultural production is rising 2.Investment is increasing 3.Productivity and income are growing 4.Africa is more connected to international trade 5.Growth not based on commodity prices alone 6.Infant mortality is declining 7.Population growth rates have begun to decline 8.Political rights and liberties more respected 9.Reduction in political conflict
Challenges and Opportunities
Diffusion of ICT
The Economist. 6 January 2011.
The New York Times. 3 May 2011.
Foreign Policy July/August 2010
The Economist. 17 March = Sub-Saharan African country
Polity IV. Global Report 2009.
Economist Intelligence Unit. Manning the Barricades. March
World Bank. Doing Business. rru.worldbank.org/businessplanet Ease of Doing Business | 2009
World Economic Forum. Global Competitiveness Report Competitiveness | 2009
The Economist. 29 January 2009.
Gapminder World 200 Years That Changed the World
China and Africa
The Economist. 20 April 2011.
Asia-Pacific Journal