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Academic Articles and Books by Mthente and Associates
Up one levelPeer-reviewed articles and book chapters written by Mthente directors, staff members and associates on topics related to trade and development
"The new resource politics: can Australia and South Africa accommodate China?" - Mark Beeson, Mills Soko and Wang Yong
International Affairs (2011) Vol. 87 (6), 1365-1384 - Associate Professor Mills Soko, one of Mthente's Founding Directors, discusses with Mark Beeson and Wang Yong whether South Africa and Australia can accommodate China in terms of the new resource politics. Their article provides a comparative analysis of China's impact on Australia and South Africa, two countries that don't have much in common except "a wealth of natural resources and a possible status as middle powers." It also discusses how China’s bilateral ties look from a Chinese perspective in the context of its relationship with these two countries. To download the article, click below.
"SADC and the Global Economic Crisis: Origins, Impacts and State Policy Responses" - Mills Soko, Neil Balchin, Miltoinette Cupido and Simon Hess
Africa Insight (December 2010) Vol. 40 (3), 168-182 - Dr Mills Soko, Mthente researchers Neil Balchin and Miltoinette Cupido, and Simon Hess of Imani Development, argue that despite initial suggestions that the African continent, including the SADC region, would be insulated from the worst effects of the global economic crisis, the secondary, real economy impact of the crisis has been felt across the SADC countries. The article is based on research carried out by Mthente Research and Consulting Services for ILO-BUSA in 2010. To download the article, click below.
"The state of development in Africa: concepts, challenges and opportunities" - Mills Soko and Jean-Pierre Lehmann
Journal of International Relations and Development (2011) Vol. 14, 97-108 - Mills Soko, Associate Professor of International Political Economy at the University of Cape Town’s Graduate School of Business and Founding Director of Mthente Research and Consulting Services, and Jean-Pierre Lehmann, Professor of International Political Economy at the International Institute for Management Development (IMD) in Switzerland and Founding Director of the Evian Group, review Africa's complex history of development challenges and discuss the notable progress it has made in addressing these challenges. To download the article, click below.
"Saudi Arabia as an Emerging Market: Commercial Opportunities and Challenges for South Africa" - Mzukisi Qobo and Mills Soko
South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA), Occasional Paper No. 69, October 2010 - Mzukisi Qobo, head of the Emerging Powers and Global Challenges programme at the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) and Mills Soko, founding director of Mthente Research and Consulting Services, discuss the way in which economic reforms in Saudi Arabia have created many opportunities for outsiders seeking new trade and investment avenues. South Africa should thus take Saudi Arabia seriously as a commercial partner as part of South Africa’s evolving South–South strategy.
"Growing African trade amid global economic turmoil" - Mills Soko
"Peace and Prosperity through World Trade," edited by Fabrice Lehmann & Jean-Pierre Lehmann, 2010 - Dr Mills Soko contributes a chapter to a recent book published by The Evian Group through Cambridge University Press. He reflects on the political and economic transformation that Africa has undergone in recent years.
"Building regional integration in Southern Africa: Southern African Customs Union as a driving force?" - Mills Soko
South African Journal of International Affairs: Vol.15, No.1, June 2008 - This article examines the extent to which the Southern African Customs Union (SACU) can act as a driver of regional integration and the extent to which this depends on South Africa's ability to translate its hegemonic position into a leadership role in the region. To download this article, click below.
"South Africa's policy towards Zimbabwe: a nexus between foreign policy and commercial interests?" Mills Soko and Neil Balchin
South African Journal of International Affairs: Vol.16, No.1, April 2009 - This article examines the extent to which South Africa's policy towards Zimbabwe under the Mbeki administration was shaped by economic and commercial considerations. To download this article, click below.
"Promoting African Trade: Issues, Prospects and Challenges" - Mills Soko
Trade, Development and Security in Africa: All sides of the same coin? - Report of the 2005 Tswalu Dialogue, Whitehall Paper 65 - Three interconnected arguments are advanced in this paper. The first is that although trade can undoubtedly play an important role in facilitating the integration of the African continent into the global economy and in reversing its subordinate role in world trade, not all African countries will benefit from a liberalized global trade regime ... To download this article, click below.
Thrown in at the deep end: South Africa and the Uruguay Round of multilateral trade negotiations, 1986–1994 - Mills Soko
Politeia: Vol. 29, No. 2, August 2010 - South Africa’s readmission into the multilateral trade system in the early 1990s was one of the key events that marked the end of decades of international ostracism brought about by the country’s apartheid policies. By participating in the Uruguay Round of multilateral trade negotiations and acceding to the Marrakesh Agreement of the GATT/WTO in 1994, South Africa agreed to liberalise its trade policies in line with the rules-based global trade regime after decades of estrangement from the GATT operations and disciplines. To read more, click below.
"Regionalism and the WTO: Opportunities and Dangers for Africa" - Mills Soko
South African Journal of International Affairs, Volume 11, Issue 2, Winter/Spring 2004 - The past few decades have witnessed a revival of interest in regional integration. The steady rise in the number of regional trade arrangements (RTAs) can be attributed to several factors [...]. This paper examines the phenomenon of regionalism and its ramifications for the African region within the framework of the WTO. To download this paper, please click below.
"Championing African Trade Interests: The Africa Group within the WTO" - Mills Soko and Mzukisi Qobo
Africa After Cancun: Trade Negotiations in Uncertain Times, [date] - The collapse of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) negotiations in Cancun in September 2003 marked a turning point in the history of trade relations between industrialised and developing nations [...]. In this chapter we assess the position and prospects of the Africa Group within the WTO (AGW) against a backdrop of the failed Cancun ministerial meeting. To download this chapter, click below.
Look East: Best alternative to EPAs (Trades Centre Zimbabwe)
The conditions of trade between EU and ACP countries may change dramatically as a consequence of the current negotiations on Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs), which are expected to be gradually introduced beginning January 2008. However, much controversy has arisen on what kind of agreement would best serve development in the ACP countries. Makochekanwa Albert from Trades Centre, presents an alternative to EPAs in a thought provoking article.
EPA Negotiations - How global is the phenomenon? (Trades Centre Zimbabwe)
The aim of the paper is to highlight the global nature of EPAs (by focusing on EPAs in other regions, as well as the Southern Africa region), after which implications for the marginalised groups are drawn out. By pointing out and reviewing EPAs (apart from the ACP-EU), the paper seeks to demonstrate that EPAs/FTAs are a global phenomenon whose design and implication cannot be replicated one for one, from one country to another, as well as from one situation to another. Masiiwa Rusare from the Trades Centre explores this phenomenon and its implications for Southern Africa's poor in this first draft report.
"US Trade Strategy after Cancun: Prospects and Implications for the SACU-US FTA" - Peter Draper and Mills Soko
The South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA), Trade Report, No. 4, May 2004 - The United States (US) and the five member states of Southern African Customs Union (SACU) — Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia, South Africa and Swaziland — have embarked upon negotiations aimed at concluding a free trade agreement (FTA) by December 2004. To download the full article please click below.
"South Africa's economic relations with Africa: hegemony and its discontents" - Chris Alden and Mills Soko
Journal of Modern African Studies, Volume 3, 2005 - South Africa’s growing economic presence across the African continent has sparked a debate in public and scholarly circles as to its intentions. While some have been quick to see South African business and parastatals as part of a larger hegemonic project pursued by Pretoria, the authors ’ more structured analysis of economic ties with Africa reveals a more complex picture. To download this article, click below.
"Africa After Cancun: Trade Negotiations in Uncertain Times"
The South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA), November 2003 - How has Africa been affected by the collapse of international trade talks at Cancun? Why did those discussions unravel? What is the future of the multilateral trade system? And what should the trade priorities and strategies of African countries be now? This trade policy report ... sets out to understand and demystify the failed September 2003 World Trade Organisation (WTO) ministerial meeting in Cancun, Mexico. To download the full report, click below.
"SACU and India: Towards a PTA" - Mills Soko
The South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA), Trade Policy Briefing, No. 11, March 2006 - What is the rationale for the proposed SACU - India PTA? How will negotiation modalities be determined? What are likely to be the respective SACU and Indian negotiating interests? What are the potential challenges and constraints? How will the outcome of the negotiations dovetail with the touted plan to create a trilateral free trade agreement (FTA) including the other IBSA partner, Brazil? To download this article, click below.
"The Aerospace Industry: Prospects for strategic co-operation among the IBSA countries" - Mills Soko
The South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA), Trade Policy Report, No. 13, April 2006 - This report constitutes the final of three components of a collaborative research project – entitled ‘South–South trade and investment co-operation: exploring the IBSA initiative’ ... Initiated in February 2005, the project seeks to identify barriers to trade and investment flows among India, Brazil and SA (the IBSA countries), and identify ways in which they can be reduced or eliminated. To download the full report, click below.
"Why trade facilitation is key to boosting intra-Africa trade" - Mills Soko
Africagrowth Agenda, September - November 2006 - The record of regional economic integration in Africa has been one of failure ... One reason for this poor trade cooperation among African countries is the continent’s high tariff barriers ... But it is generally agreed among trade and development experts that tariffs comprise only a small share of impediments to African trade. To download this article, click below.