Geopolitics, Development, and Africa with Institute for Security Studies

On February 22, 2023, Pardee hosted Jakkie Cilliers of the Institute of Security Studies (ISS) and a panel of African scholars for the Geopolitics, Development, and Africa Event. Cilliers and the discussants discussed issues that affect the future of African development. Cilliers opened the event by discussing how ISS uses IFs to predict African countries’ GDP under different scenarios. Cilliers discussed how climate change, China’s geopolitical trajectory, and the war in Ukraine are some of the most influential factors in different development outcomes in Africa. Regarding the role of the West in African development, Cilliers highlighted the importance of the EU, the US, and China as stable trading partners in Africa mentioning that in order to retain influence, the West must consider de-risking investments on the continent.  Cilliers finished his presentation by returning to the ISS mission: “All our work is about what Africa can do for itself... Ultimately, it comes down to African leadership promoting African development.”