Although women entrepreneurs are rapidly becoming a major force in economic production in Africa, their contribution could become even more significant if a number of restrictions were removed so that their potential could be fully exploited, write Sultan Rehman Sherief and Asmahani Aswaddalai

It seems unfair to draw similarities between antiglobalists and opponents of the black immigration in western societies. After all, anti-globalisation activists are generally presented as politically progressive and socially conscious people. Nevertheless, there are striking similarities between the assumptions of left-leaning critics of globalisation and right-wing racists, writes Tunde Obadina.

To understand why Africa remains poor or is not growing as fast as it could economically, we need to study the impact of politics and culture on economic activity in the continent. This will tell us more about underdevelopment than straight economic analysis focusing on such matters as macroeconomic management and international trade relations, writes Tunde Obadina.

Imagine that it is May 25, 2063, the 100th anniversary of Africa Day, a day for reflecting on Africa’s successes and failures. The newspaper headline announces, “Last Remaining Oilfield in West Africa’s American Territory Dries Up.”

Agricultural development in Africa is caught in a long-running ideological conflict between advocates of Green Revolution in the continent and those who believe such a technological approach to be inappropriate and potentially harmful, explain Ravinder Rena

The benefits of globalisation flowed primarily to the developed world and its principal trading partners, among them Brazil, China, and India. As we enter the newer age of mobility, people will move across borders in ever-greater numbers. In their pursuit of opportunity and a better life, they have the potential to chip away at the vast inequalities that characterise our time, writes Ravinder Rena.

Technology has been used by others to exploit Africa for centuries. It is now time for Africa to grasp technology and finally embrace the modern age’s clay of wisdom and advancement, argues Philip Emeagwali

Micrifinace is a powerful tool for development, write Sultan Rehman Sherief and S. Tameem Sharief. They compare experiences across Africa with those in India, and identify the difficulties and challenges faced by microfinance institutions that may guide public policy in the sector.

Recent civil conflicts in Sudan, including in Darfur, have commonly been explained as clashes between competing ethnic groups. Pamela Paglia argues that this concentration on ethnicity as the primary cause for conflicts in Africa underestimates the complexity of African societies and politics. 

The quest for a pan-African government is a diversion from the real challenges facing the people of continent, argues Ike Nnedu. African nations need better governments, not another layer of incompetent, rent-seeking politicians and bureaucrats.