Research

Research

We focus on the current development dynamics of Africa. In particular, we are interested in these topics:

1)  Economic Dynamics of Africa

Africa has been through significant economic changes recently which have reflected not only in the rising middle class, speeding digital transformation or innovative approaches to persisting problems of development (e.g. mobile money), but from the business perspective, also in new regional initiatives such as the African Continental Free Trade Area, in rising interest of external economic powers such as China in the African continent, or in re-orientation of some African countries towards the emerging African markets. This all makes Africa an immensely interesting continent for research.

Our recent research publications related to this topic:

  • Němečková, Tereza, Hayat, Arshad (2023) Services Trade and Institutional Quality: Evidence from Africa. Applied Economics, 10.1080/00036846.2023.2206621
  • Němečková, Tereza, Hayat, Arshad (2022) Does trade openness improve the quality of domestic institutions? Evidence from Africa. Equilibrium. Quarterly Journal of Economics and Economic Policy. 2022, 4. (4), 881-908. ISSN 1689-765X. 10.24136/eq.2022.030
  • Reboredo, Ricardo (2022) The BRICS and Africa: meet the new boss, same as the old?." Journal of Southern African Studies, 48(1), pp. 201–202, 10.1080/03057070.2022.2021019
  • Němečková, Tereza (2021) Morocco as emerging regional economic power? The Journal of North African Studies, 26:1, 51-72, 10.1080/13629387.2019.1657843
  • Němečková, Tereza (2021) Digital transformation of Africa: on track to be connected to the global digital economy? Kasanda, Albert, Hrubec, Marek (eds) Africa in a multilateral world. Afripolitan Dilemmas. London: Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003187097  
  • Reboredo, Ricardo (2021) Rebuilding hegemony: passive revolution, state transformation and South Africa’s steel sector. Review of African Political Economy, 10.1080/03056244.2021.1937091
  • Němečková, Tereza, Harmáček, Jaromír, Schlossarek, Martin (2020) Measuring the Middle Class in Africa – Income versus Assets Approach. Africa Spectrum, 55 (1): 1-33. 10.1177/0002039720916087
  • Hayat, Arshad, Tahir, Muhammed (2019) Foreign Direct Investment, natural resources and economic growth: a threshold model approach. Journal of Economic Studies, 48(5): 929-944. 10.1108/JES-03-2020-0127 

2)  Energy Relations between Europe and Africa and the European Green Deal and its Impacts on Sustainable Development of Africa

The European Green Deal has been proposed as a domestic plan, however, it has an extensive external dimension, too. Africa may play a crucial role in success of delivering the European Green Deal. As a continent enormously rich in renewable energy resources and other resources being necessary in production of many green technologies, the continent attracts attention of the external countries interested in these resources. This creates new geoeconomic and geopolitical changes in the region and more than ever before, it raises the question to what extent Africa will benefit from it from the perspective of its urgent need for sustainable development.

Our recent research publications related to this topic:

  • Tichý, Lukáš (2021) A Comparison of the EU External Energy Relations with Angola and Tanzania. International Politics, 58: 301-319. 10.1057/s41311-020-00253-5
  • Tichý, Lukáš, Dubský, Zbyněk, Mazač, Jan (2021) The External Energy Actorness of the EU towards Egypt. Energy Strategy Reviews, 37, September 2021. 10.1016/j.esr.2021.100695
  • Tichý, Lukáš, Mazač, Jan, Dubský, Zdeněk (2020) The EU Actorness in the Energy Relations with Algeria. Insight Turkey, 22(4): 201-227. https://doi.org/10.25253/99.2020224.12
  • Tichý, Lukáš (2019) The Islamic State Oil and Gas Strategy in North Africa. Energy Strategy Reviews, 24: 254-260. 10.1016/j.esr.2019.04.001

3)  China, Russia, and Turkey in Africa

Many countries such as China, Russia, Turkey, or India have recently increased their activities in the African region and this not only in the energy sector, but also in other areas of economic cooperation (aid, investment, trade) or security cooperation (military cooperation). This surely impacts the European presence and interests in the region. We pay special attention to Chinese investments in infrastructural projects across the region and in rising Russian and Turkish activities on the continent.

Our recent research publications related to this topic:

  • Reboredo, Ricardo, Gambino, Elisa (2022) Connectivity and competition: the emerging geographies of Africa’s ‘Ports Race’, Area Development and Policy, 10.1080/23792949.2022.2115933
  • Carmody, P., Zajontz, T., & Reboredo, R. (2022). From ‘debt diplomacy’ to donorship? China’s changing role in global development, Global Political Economy, 1(2), 198-217. https://doi.org/10.1332/UZHW7185
  • Němečková, Tereza, Melnikovová, Lea, Piskunova, Natalia (2021) Russia's return to Africa: A comparative study of Egypt, Algeria and Morocco. The Journal of Modern African Studies, 59(3), 367-390. 10.1017/S0022278X21000070
  • Reboredo, Ricardo (2021) Disagregating Development: A Critical Analysis of Sino-African Megaprojects. Progress in Development Studies. 10.1177/14649934211007639
  • Reboredo, Ricardo (2019) A panacea for development? Megaprojects and the construction of state legitimacy in post-apartheid South Africa. African Geographical Review, 38(3): 240-252. 10.1080/19376812.2019.1589734