Livestreaming

DIIS Event

Large-scale investments, conflicts and rights in Africa

Natural resource investments and their consequences
Ved at trykke på afspil, accepterer du cookies fra den eksterne video-udbyder.

Watch the recording of the seminar here 


Please note: you will find direct video links to the different presentations in the programme below

 

DIIS ∙ Danish Institute for International Studies

Auditorium

Gl. Kalkbrænderi Vej 51A

2100 Copenhagen

 

Over the past decade, large-scale investments in natural resources in African countries have increased dramatically. Investments may stimulate economic growth, but they also often generate conflicts. Contestations are articulated by a multitude of actors who assign different values to the resources. Business and state actors often prevail and may end up violating the rights of local populations. This can lead to severe social protests and political instability. At times, investments are not implemented due to local resistance. But does it always have to be this way?

 

This seminar is about the politics of large-scale natural resource investments in Africa. Jesse Ovadia, Associate Professor at University of Windsor in Canada, presents a recent study on the impact of new-found oil wealth in South-Western Ghana. He suggests that rural displacement and urban gentrification have become the costs of speculative “oil city projects” and “petro-industrial hubs”. He is followed by Lars Buur, Associate professor at Roskilde University, who presents the outcome of a five-year research programme, the Hierarchy of Rights, which has researched the relation between investments and rights in African countries. He draws on eight cases of investments into oil, mining and agriculture in Mozambique, Tanzania and Uganda to develop a model that can help explain whether and how the rights of local populations are accommodated during investment processes and how this affect implementation.

 

Speakers

Jesse Salah Ovadia, Associate Professor, University of Windsor, Canada

Lars Buur, Associate Professor, Roskilde University, RUC

Rasmus Hundsbæk Pedersen, Senior Researcher, DIIS

 

Programme

10.00-10.10

Introduction (video)

 

Rasmus Hundsbæk Pedersen

 

 

10.10-10.40

Oil, land-use and conflict in Ghana(video)

 

Jesse Salah Ovadia

 

 

10.40-11.10

The politics of natural resource investments and rights in Africa - a theoretical model(video)

 

Lars Buur

 

 

11.10-11.25

Coffee

 

 

11.25-12.00

Q&A(video)

 

Moderated by Rasmus Hundsbæk Pedersen

 

 

Practical information

The seminar will be held in English and livestreamed on diis.dk.

 

Participation is free of charge, but registration is required. Please use our online registration form no later than Monday 27 January at 10.00. Livestream does not require registration.

 

Sign up

Tilmeld

28 januar 2020 12:00–14:00
Auditorium

DIIS Eksperter

Rasmus Hundsbæk Pedersen
Sustainable development and governance
Senior Researcher
91325504