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This research paper analyzes the economic and political relations between China and Nigeria, tracing their history from post-independence hostility to intense engagement and a subsequent cooling-off period. It examines trade imbalances, the dominance of oil in Nigerian exports, and various sectoral interactions including power, rail, and finance.

This report by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) provides an overview of the status of international climate change negotiations as of September 2009, focusing on the outcomes of the Bonn II and Bonn III talks. It details the progress and divergences across the four pillars of the Bali Action Plan—mitigation, adaptation, technology, and financing—as member countries of the UNFCCC worked toward a post-2012 emission reduction regime to be adopted at COP 15 in Copenhagen.

This research paper by the South African Institute of International Affairs examines the multifaceted role of Chinese construction firms and state-owned enterprises (SOEs) in Botswana's infrastructure sector. It analyzes the shift from government-funded aid projects to competitive public tenders, the low-cost strategies employed by Chinese firms, and the emergence of new commercial financing models for large-scale energy projects.

This research paper examines the decline of South Africa's clothing and textile sector following the end of the Multi Fibre Agreement (MFA) in 2004 and the subsequent rise of Chinese exports. It argues that while imports from China have caused significant job losses, the sector's primary failure is a lack of competitiveness due to high labour costs, low productivity, and rigid labour markets. The author suggests that further trade protection is unlikely to be effective and instead advocates for non-trade industrial policy tools, such as skills and capital upgrades, and a strategic shift toward high-end niche products.

This policy brief examines China's strategic investments in bauxite mining and infrastructure within Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam, highlighting the lack of regulatory oversight and the potential for significant transboundary environmental impacts.

This report by Friends of the Earth International examines how the Asian Development Bank (ADB) finances projects that contribute to climate change and increase vulnerability in the Asia Pacific region. Through case studies in Sri Lanka, Indonesia, and Bangladesh, the report argues that the ADB's support for fossil fuels and destructive development projects outweighs its climate mitigation initiatives.

This research paper evaluates the 'price-gap approach' for measuring fossil fuel subsidies, arguing that while it provides a useful global benchmark, it systematically understates the total magnitude of government support by ignoring transfers that do not affect end-user prices.

This report analyzes the legal risks host states face when international investment agreements (IIAs) allow investors to 'internationalize' contract disputes, engage in forum-shopping, or initiate multiple legal proceedings. It examines the impact of broadly-worded dispute resolution clauses, umbrella clauses, and fork-in-the-road clauses, providing a survey of IIA drafting trends and arbitral jurisprudence to recommend best practices for protecting state sovereignty.

This research paper examines the role of human rights in African international relations, arguing that while there is a robust framework of regional and international treaties, human rights often remain a "variable concern" subordinated to national interests and geopolitical strategies. The author analyzes the tension between international monitoring mechanisms and the pursuit of "African solutions to African problems," specifically highlighting the controversy surrounding the ICC arrest warrant for Omar Al-Bashir and the influence of China's non-interference policy on the continent.

This research paper by Mireille Affa’a Mindzie, published by the South African Institute of International Affairs in August 2009, examines the role of human rights in African international relations. It analyzes the tension between the formal commitment to international human rights standards and the practical application of these standards in bilateral and multilateral diplomacy, where national interests and the pursuit of 'African solutions to African problems' often take precedence.

A coalition of civil society organizations, including the Center for International Environmental Law and Earthjustice, submitted comments to the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Trade Representative on July 31, 2009, regarding the review of the 2004 U.S. Model Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT). The coalition argues that the model BIT fails to balance investor rights with public interest protections and grants foreign investors greater substantive rights than those afforded to U.S. citizens under domestic law.

This research paper analyzes Russian President Dmitry Medvedev's June 2009 visit to Africa and parallel summits in Yekaterinburg as part of a broader Russian strategy to challenge a unipolar world dominated by the United States and reassert influence in the developing world.

This report advocates for the renewal of the Internet Governance Forum's (IGF) mandate, highlighting its success as a multi-stakeholder, bottom-up model for global technology governance. It argues that the IGF has effectively defused tensions over U.S. oversight of ICANN and provided a space for developing countries to address issues like universal access and open standards. The authors suggest that the 'Internet model' of shared ownership and collaborative engagement could be applied to other critical global challenges, including climate change and sustainable development.

This case study describes how coordinated civil society actions across Southern Africa successfully blocked a shipment of weapons destined for Zimbabwe following controversial elections.

This research paper analyzes the relationship between China's trade success and its carbon emissions, arguing that China's comparative advantage is based on labor costs rather than carbon intensity. The author contends that border tax adjustments on carbon-intensive imports would have minimal impact on China's economy and suggests that a global carbon price could provide an opportunity for China to lead in sustainable technologies.

This situation report by the Institute for Security Studies assesses the political crisis in Chad, analyzing the failure of previous intervention efforts and the interests of domestic and international actors. It argues that while the international community often views the conflict as a spillover from the Darfur crisis, the root causes are internal governance failures and power struggles over state resources, particularly oil. The report evaluates several peace agreements and UN/EU missions, concluding that a lack of political will and coordinated implementation has hindered a sustainable resolution.

This report summarizes an Institute for Security Studies (ISS) seminar held on June 17, 2009, in Pretoria. The session, featuring historian Stefan August Lütgenau and respondent Issake Souaré, examined the complexities of arts and cultural heritage restitution, focusing on Austria's post-WWII experience with Nazi-looted assets and the broader challenges of returningCS colonial looting in Africa.

This report provides a comparative analysis of national climate change strategies from five developing countries: India, Brazil, China, Mexico, and South Africa. It examines their stated objectives, development processes, greenhouse gas (GHG) emission scenarios, and specific proposed interventions for mitigation and adaptation.

The author reflects on three major shifts in global history—the end of Eurocentrism and Empire, the end of the Cold War, and a current shift away from Anglo-Saxon dominance—while arguing that South Africa's future depends on an active, self-reliant citizenry rather than a reliance on 'great men' leaders.

This technical feasibility study by the Stockholm Environment Institute explores two energy scenarios for China from 2005 to 2050. The Baseline scenario projects a nearly four-fold increase in energy sector CO2 emissions, while the Deep Carbon Reduction Scenario (DCRS) examines the possibility of limiting cumulative emissions to 229 GT CO2 to align with the Greenhouse Development Rights (GDRs) framework and a global goal of keeping temperature increases below 2°C.