Understanding the Emerging Economies of Africa: Trends & Geopolitical Implications

The World Affairs Council of Northern California hosted CEGA Faculty Director Ted Miguel for a lunchtime talk on how to understand the emerging economies of Africa.

An audio recording of this talk is available from the World Affairs Council website.

The 1970’s, 1980’s and 1990’s were disastrous times for Africa. With millions suffering through brutal civil wars, almost all Africans were living under dictatorships. With living standards plummeting, it seemed like things could not get any worse for Africa.Then the HIV/AIDS epidemic hit and Africa began to seem un-savable, but things began to turn around.

By the late 1990’s many African nations held multiparty elections, and civic and media freedoms steadily grew. In 2012, Africa is, in many ways, not recognizable from that of the latter twentieth century.

Professor Miguel will examine Africa today and tackle tough questions such as:

• How are the economies in Africa doing in 2012 and which countries are in the rising tide of south-south trade?
• What geo-political effects will the rise of south-south cooperation have on the global economic landscape?

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