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BISA-Africa and International Studies ESRC seminar series:
African agency in international politics
Emerging Agents of Change? Africa and international negotiations
02 February 2011
Recent years have seen a heightened presence of African governments in international
negotiations - the climate change negotiations in Copenhagen in 2009, diplomatic influence
within the WTO and new roles for state and non-state actors within the processes around
the granting and delivery of aid. In all three areas, Western and increasingly emerging
powers, as well as international institutions such as the UNDP and World Bank have sought
actively to promote greater capacity and participation by Africa in international and regional
forums, often in support of specific international objectives. Do these activities signify
emerging influence for African states within an increasing multipolar world, or merely
continued subversion of the sovereignty of small states by larger powers?
Programme
9.30 - 10:00
Registration and Coffee
10:00 - 11:00
Africa in multilateral negotiations: a critique of African common
positions
Chair: Elizabeth Donnelly, Chatham House
Dr Siphamandla Zondi, Institute for Global Dialogue, South Africa
11.00 – 11.15
Coffee break
11:15 - 12:15
Weapons of the weak? Africa in Aid negotiations
Chair: William Brown, The Open University
Dr. Alistair Fraser, Cambridge University
12:15 - 12.30
Further discussion and common themes*
12:30 – 13:30
Lunch Reception
13:30 – 14:30
African activism in the WTO
Chair: William Brown, The Open University
Prof Donna Lee, Birmingham University
14:30 - 15.30
African decision-making in the climate change negotiations
Chair: Steve Hurt, Oxford Brookes University
Dr Jean-Christophe Hoste, Egmont
15:30 – 15:45
Further discussion and common themes*
15:45 – 16:00
Coffee break
16:00 – 17:00
Making Africa’s voice heard in climate negotiations?
Chair: Sophie Harman, City University
Hilary Benn MP
17:00 – 17:30
Conclusion