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AIDS, Orphans and Crime. Exploring the Linkages
This research paper by the Institute for Security Studies examines the purported link between the HIV/AIDS epidemic, the resulting increase in orphaned children, and rising crime rates in Africa, particularly southern Africa. The author argues that while the epidemic creates environments conducive to crime through poverty and demographic shifts, there is little empirical evidence to suggest that AIDS orphans are disproportionately more likely to commit crimes than other poor children.
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Document type: Research paper
OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES FOR DELIVERING ON THE RESPONSIBILITY TO PROTECT
This 2005 monograph analyzes the African Union's (AU) efforts to implement the 'Responsibility to Protect' (R2P) framework. While the AU has demonstrated political will through missions in Burundi (AMIB) and Darfur (AMIS), it faces severe financial, logistical, and capacity constraints. The author argues that international donors, including the G8 and EU, tend to over-emphasize military response capabilities over long-term conflict prevention. The report highlights the AU's shift toward conditional sovereignty and the development of the African Standby Force (ASF) as key components of a new continental security regime.
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Document type: Report
Progress with the African Standby Force
This research paper provides an overview of the progress made toward establishing the African Standby Force (ASF) as of May 2005. It details the continental policy framework adopted by the African Union (AU) and examines the specific implementation efforts, capabilities, and challenges within three regional bodies: the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), and the Southern African Development Community (SADC). The document highlights significant gaps between policy aspirations and operational capacity, primarily driven by funding shortages and limited national military capabilities.
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Document type: Research paper
Towards a Continental Early Warning System for Africa
This research paper examines the development and operationalization of the Continental Early Warning System (CEWS) within the African Union (AU). It distinguishes early warning from traditional state intelligence, emphasizing a focus on human security and open-source data. The document reviews the transition from the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) to the AU, the legal framework of the Peace and Security Council (PSC), and the varying stages of early warning system implementation across regional economic communities in West, Central, Southern, and East Africa.
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Document type: Research paper
Diasporas, Remittances and Africa South of the Sahara: A Strategic Assessment
This conclusion section of a research paper examines the complex role of remittances and diasporas in Africa South of the Sahara, highlighting the tension between their necessity for survival in impoverished states and the risks of criminal abuse and economic instability.
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Document type: Research paper
Diasporas, Remittances and Africa South of the Sahara: A Strategic Assessment
This research paper introduction by Marc-Antoine Pérouse de Montclos examines the strategic role of modern African 'ethno-national' diasporas and their financial remittances in countries south of the Sahara. The author analyzes how these transfers contribute to sustainable development, poverty reduction, and debt servicing, while also noting the risks of money laundering and the complex political influence these networks exert on their home governments.
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Document type: Research paper
EU Trade Policy and Conflict
This 2005 IISD report analyzes the impact of EU trade policy on conflict in the developing world. It highlights a contradiction: while the EU uses 'soft power' initiatives (like FLEGT and the Kimberley Process) to curb conflict resources and 'carrots' (preferential access) to encourage good governance, its structural policies—such as massive agricultural subsidies and the push for reciprocal Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs)—can undermine economic stability and fuel conflict. The report warns that commodity price volatility and the 'resource curse' further destabilize low-income countries, and recommends that the EU conduct conflict assessments of trade agreements and reduce agricultural subsidies to promote global peace and sustainable development.
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Document type: Report
WAR, CONFLICT AND ORGANISED CRIME CONFERENCE REPORT
This report summarizes a workshop hosted by the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) from 22-23 March 2005, which examined the links between conflict, civil wars, and organised crime in Africa. The conference brought together 30 participants from government, security, judicial services, and civil society from six African nations to discuss the origins of organised crime, the role of state dysfunction, and the impact of economic factors and natural resources on conflict.
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Document type: Report
Working Together Assessing Public–Private Partnerships in Africa
This report by the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) evaluates the implementation of public-private partnerships (PPPs) in Africa, analyzing their potential to address infrastructure and service backlogs. Through eight case studies across sectors including transport, telecommunications, water, power, and eco-tourism, the document argues that while PPPs can offer efficiency gains and fiscal benefits, they are not a 'magic bullet' and are susceptible to the same failures as full privatisation, such as corruption, poor pricing, and lack of transparency. The report provides a comprehensive set of recommendations for African governments to improve regulatory frameworks, conduct thorough feasibility studies, and build institutional capacity to ensure PPPs deliver value for money and social benefit.
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Document type: Report
Food System Scenarios: Exploring Global/Local Linkages
This research paper explores methodologies for linking global food system scenarios with local food security and livelihood dynamics. Using case studies from India and South Africa, the authors demonstrate how top-down global scenarios (such as those from the Global Scenario Group) can be downscaled to national and provincial levels, while proposing a bottom-up approach that uses livelihood systems as an intermediate scale to better capture local vulnerability and adaptive capacity.
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Document type: Research paper
IP QUARTERLY UPDATE: FIRST QUARTER 2005
The report analyzes the impact of bilateral trade agreements on copyright and access to knowledge, noting that agreements involving the U.S. often impose protections (such as 70-year terms and anti-circumvention of TPMs) that exceed multilateral standards. It also summarizes IP disputes in the WTO regarding pharmaceutical compulsory licensing and genetic resource disclosure, as well as tensions at WIPO over the Substantive Patent Law Treaty.
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Document type: Report
UN Reform and Funding Peacekeeping in Africa
This research paper by Jakkie Cilliers examines the financial and structural challenges of expanding peacekeeping capacities in Africa, specifically focusing on the relationship between the United Nations (UN), the African Union (AU), and regional organisations. It analyzes the proposed 'vertical deepening' of regional peacekeeping and the 'horizontal expansion' into peacebuilding, while evaluating the efficacy of the EU Peace Facility and the funding gaps for the African Standby Force (ASF).
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Document type: Research paper
El Gran Exito: The Chilean Success Story
This report by the South African Institute of International Affairs analyzes Chile's economic and political transition from a military dictatorship (1973–1989) to a stable democracy. It highlights how Chile combined liberal market reforms with progressive social policies and pragmatic leadership to achieve high GDP growth and human development, offering these as potential lessons for African nations seeking to improve economic growth and reduce poverty.
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Document type: Report
Corporate Governance South Africa, a pioneer in Africa
This report by the South African Institute of International Affairs examines the evolution of corporate governance in South Africa, focusing on the influence of the King Reports and the country's role as a model for other African nations. It details the transition from a closed, racially-exclusive economy to a liberalised market with sophisticated governance codes, while highlighting ongoing challenges in enforcement capacity and the complexities of black economic empowerment.
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Document type: Report
Developing an African Growth Plan
This research paper argues that the United Nations Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) are insufficient for developing Africa because they focus on the symptoms of poverty rather than the underlying causes of economic stagnation. The author contends that the MDGs act as a 'political camouflage' that diverts resources away from growth-oriented investments. To address this, the paper proposes a comprehensive set of 'African Millennium Growth Goals' focused on commercial infrastructure, rural economy investment, technical skills, financial reform, and the removal of bureaucratic and corrupt obstacles to business.
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Document type: Research paper
Good intentions are not enough for African development
This research paper evaluates the potential of the Africa Commission, established by UK Prime Minister Tony Blair, to influence African development. The author argues that while the commission is complementary to the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (Nepad), it must move beyond general economic liberalisation and 'enabling environments' to create specific, investor-driven strategies and tangible successes to attract the private investment necessary for growth.
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Document type: Research paper
Time to rethink Nepad
The research paper critiques the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (Nepad), arguing that it has remained a forum for discussion and 'soft tools of persuasion' rather than a driver of tangible policy change. It highlights the failure of the 2002 Kananaskis G8 summit to secure increased aid and criticizes Nepad's general sectoral strategies and reliance on weak regional bodies. The author concludes that Nepad must pivot toward becoming a research-driven think-tank, focusing its limited resources on the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) to enforce rigorous governance standards.
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Document type: Research paper
AIR POWER IN 21 ST CENTURY AFRICA
This research paper, presented by Maj Gen C. Gagiano to the South African Air Force in 2004, examines the application of air power within the asymmetric security landscape of 21st-century Africa. It argues for a shift in air power doctrine from a technology-driven focus on air superiority and destruction toward a holistic approach that emphasizes mobility, surveillance, and the human dimensions of conflict to promote regional security.
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Document type: Research paper
South African business marching north: is there a case for regulation?
This research paper examines the motivations, impacts, and competitiveness of South African business investment across Africa, while discussing the potential and pitfalls of regulating such investment behavior to address regional sensitivities and corruption.
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Document type: Research paper
Seeding the Harvest
The document outlines a panel's recommendations for enhancing African agriculture through science, technology, institutional development, and policy reform to improve food security and income.
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Document type: Report