DIIS-seminar: Large-scale investments, conflicts and rights in Africa (København)

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
Rasmus Hundsbæk Pedersen

10.10-10.40: Oil, land-use and conflict in Ghana
Jesse Salah Ovadia

10.40-11.10: The politics of natural resource investments and rights in Africa – a theoretical model
Lars Buur

11.10-11.25: Coffee

11.25-12.00: Q&A
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.

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