South Sudan's Transnational Networks

The Rift Valley Institute published in March 2018 a study titled "The Role of Transnational Networks and Mobile Citizens in South Sudan's Global Community: A Pilot Study Focused on Melbourne and Juba" by Cedric Barnes, Freddie Carver, Santino Atem Deng, Gabriel Kiir, Nicki Kindersley, Rebecca Lorins and Sarah Maher.

The study takes a holistic approach to the dynamics of the South Sudanese transnational community and its impact within South Sudan. International migrations since the 1960s have created a global South Sudanese community that has been fundamental to the challenging process of forming a South Sudanese state. These networks have also undermined political and civil responsibility within South Sudan. The research confirms the extreme challenges faced by South Sudanese communities in their locations of displacement, in this case Australia.

Protecting American Interests in Africa

This is a paper I delivered in Beijing on 9 March 2017 at a conference titled US-China-Africa: Practices and Cooperation in Protecting Overseas Interests hosted by the China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations and sponsored by the Ford Foundation. My paper looks at the protection of US nationals and interests in Africa.

China-Africa Investment Treaties: Do They Work?

The UK's International Institute for Environment and Development published in 2016 a major study titled "China-Africa Investment Treaties: Do They Work?" by Lorenzo Cotula, Xiaoxue Weng, Qianru Ma, and Peng Ren.

The authors explain that China's bilateral investment treaties (BITs) in Africa tend to be narrowly focused and are signed with one African country at a time. The report explores the content of the China-Africa BITs and whether they achieve their stated goal of promoting foreign investment. Their preliminary finding is that the China-Africa BITs may not be fulfilling their stated goal of promoting foreign investment.

Comparing American and Chinese Business Models in Africa

The Woodrow Wilson Center in Washington, D.C. asked me to make remarks on 15 November 2016 on "Comparing American and Chinese Business Models in Africa."

The remarks underscore the different economic principles on which American and Chinese companies operate, especially the closer ties with government in the case of Chinese companies. The comments conclude with several recommendations for the United States and Africa.

Africa Serves as China's Laboratory for Third World Security Cooperation

China Brief published on 6 July 2016 my piece titled "Africa: China's Laboratory for Third World Security Cooperation."

The article looks at evolving Chinese policies dealing with Responsibility to Protect, political risk, UN peacekeeping operations, counterterrorism, anti-piracy, and naval expansion.

Political Risk Factors Facing Chinese Investment in Africa

The Centre for Chinese Studies (CCS) at Stellenbosch University published in September 2013 a paper titled "Political Risk Factors: What Chinese Companies Need to Assess When Investing in Africa" by Gerda du Toit, a research intern at the CCS.

She argues that security is becoming a more important factor for Chinese firms as they expand investments in Africa.  Economic development, social development, political instability, corruption and political violence are host country factors that may shape the African political environment and Chinese firms' exposure to political risk.