Journal Article•
Lions on the Move : The Progress and Potential of African Economies, McKinsey Global Institute : book review
01 Jan 2011-African Journal of Science, Technology, Innovation and Development (Taylor & Francis)-Vol. 3, Iss: 2, pp 295-298
TL;DR: The recent publication by the McKinsey Global Institute has confronted these seemingly unwelcome and unhealthy viewpoints by promoting an alternative approach in recognising that just as there are Tigers in Asia, the Lions in Africa are on the move as discussed by the authors.
Abstract: The recent publication by the McKinsey Global Institute has confronted these seemingly unwelcome and unhealthy viewpoints by promoting an alternative approach in recognising that just as there are Tigers in Asia, the Lions in Africa are on the move. The symbolic message of optimism created by the metaphoric characterisation of a number of African economies as lions on the move is therefore extremely positive. There is much to be gained in being hopeful and optimistic.
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Book•
30 Nov 2011
TL;DR: In this paper, anthropologists Jean and John Comaroff draw on their long experience of living in Africa to address a range of familiar themes - democracy, national borders, labour and capital and multiculturalism.
Abstract: As nation-states in the Northern Hemisphere experience economic crisis, political corruption and racial tension, it seems as though they might be 'evolving' into the kind of societies normally associated with the 'Global South'. Anthropologists Jean and John Comaroff draw on their long experience of living in Africa to address a range of familiar themes - democracy, national borders, labour and capital and multiculturalism. They consider how we might understand these issues by using theory developed in the Global South. Challenging our ideas about 'developed' and 'developing' nations, Theory from the South provides new insights into key problems of our time.
760Â citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors examine evidence of trends, scale, geography and drivers in the global land rush and point out a more complex set of drivers that reflect fundamental shifts in economic and geopolitical relations linking sovereign states, global finance, and agribusiness through to local groups.
Abstract: Over the past few years, agribusiness, investment funds and government agencies have been acquiring long-term rights over large areas of farmland in lower income countries. It is widely thought that private sector expectations of higher agricultural commodity prices and government concerns about longer-term food and energy security underpin much recent land acquisition for agricultural investments. These processes are expected to have lasting and far-reaching implications for world agriculture and for livelihoods and food security in recipient countries. This paper critically examines evidence of trends, scale, geography and drivers in the global land rush. While this analysis broadly corroborates some widespread assumptions, it also points to a more complex set of drivers that reflect fundamental shifts in economic and geopolitical relations linking sovereign states, global finance, and agribusiness through to local groups. Only a solid understanding of these fundamental drivers can help identify levers ...
552Â citations
TL;DR: Threats linked to the definition of TGB, the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) and Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation schemes (REDD+), and enhanced atmospheric CO2, which may facilitate future state shifts are discussed.
Abstract: Tropical grassy biomes (TGBs) are globally extensive, provide critical ecosystem services, and influence the earth–atmosphere system. Yet, globally applied biome definitions ignore vegetation characteristics that are critical to their functioning and evolutionary history. Hence, TGB identification is inconsistent and misinterprets the ecological processes governing vegetation structure, with cascading negative consequences for biodiversity. Here, we discuss threats linked to the definition of TGB, the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) and Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation schemes (REDD+), and enhanced atmospheric CO2, which may facilitate future state shifts. TGB degradation is insidious and less visible than in forested biomes. With human reliance on TGBs and their propensity for woody change, ecology and evolutionary history are fundamental to not only the identification of TGBs, but also their management for future persistence.
405Â citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors argue that Africa-focused management research may address the major problem of organizational effectiveness through work on the two major theoretical building blocks: institutions and resources, and they discuss the interactive processes within each of the two building blocks and the transformational mechanisms that link each theory and organizational effectiveness in the African context.
Abstract: While management research has made significant progress in globalizing its reach, African organizations have remained a missing link. We argue that Africa-focused management research may address the major problem of organizational effectiveness through work on the two major theoretical building blocks: institutions and resources. Building a model of organizational effectiveness in Africa, this article discusses the interactive processes within each of the two building blocks and the transformational mechanisms that link each theory and organizational effectiveness in the African context.
262Â citations
Book•
14 Jan 2011
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors discuss the role of science, technology and engineering in growing the economy and enabling infrastructure for agricultural innovation systems, and the way ahead for the future of agriculture.
Abstract: Introduction 1. Growing the economy 2. Advances in science, technology and engineering 3. Agricultural innovation systems 4. Enabling infrastructure 5. Human capacity 6. Entrepreneurship 7. Governing innovation 8. The way ahead
229Â citations