ISS Seminar Dakar: Launch of the ISS Monograph: African Futures 2050
Date: 2011-04-19
Venue: , ISS Dakar Office
, Conference Room OSIWA
, Stele Mermoz
, 100x El Hadji
, Ibrahima Niasse
RSVP:
Dr. Deogratias Barakamfitiye
Tel: +221 33 824 0918
[email protected]
The
Executive Director of the Institute for Security Studies cordially invites you
to the launch and cocktail for the African Futures 2050 Monograph at the ISS
Dakar Office.
Major
transitions are rapidly reshaping Africa. Populations are growing substantially
and urbanizing. Economic growth has accelerated over the last decade. New technologies,
including mobile phones and solar cells, are sweeping across the continent.
Longstanding conflicts have been or are being addressed. On the broader stage,
but with important regional implications, the rise of China, India and other
major emerging countries are changing our trading and investment patterns.
Yet major
uncertainties face us. How rapidly will we bring communicable diseases under
control and advance the education of our citizens? Can Africa diversify its
economies and employ its growing population in manufacturing and services, as
well as successfully managing the wealth generated by its raw materials? Will
climate change increase pressures on agriculture or will Africa have its own
green revolution? How will the continent build the extensive infrastructures
that it desperately needs? What will be the quality of our governance? How will
external actors, both government and firms, approach and affects Africa.
With this
monograph the Institute for Security Studies and the Pardee Center for International
Futures provide an extensive study of Africa’s current course. Combining the
deep and wide knowledge of Africa within the ISS with extensive use of the IF’s
modeling system, this discussion goes beyond past work in a number of ways. It
looks across most major issue arenas: demographics, economics, sociopolitical
change, the environment and human development itself, including health and
education. It explores further into our future than perhaps any other extensive
study of African futures has ever done. While not pushing forward specific
policy initiatives, it provides a context within which those who pursue
sustainable human development can consider our policies. While providing broad
set of insights concerning where we may be going, clearly this study leaves
room for much future work. No one can predict the future and we do not pretend
to do so. Instead this publication provides one possible future, shaped by
recent and likely future developments. The intention is to build in the near
future and in collaboration with other African institutions, other visions,
rooted heavily in alternative choices and actions across the continent.
Clearly, the story of Africa’s future has only begun.
- Chairperson:
Dr.
Deogratias Barakamfitiye, Office Director, ISS Dakar
- Speaker: Dr
Jakkie Cilliers, Executive Director, ISS
Please note that discussions occur under the ISS Rules,
which means no attribution without specific permission. Media will not be
present during this seminar.