Several of Africa’s countries have come a long way in recent years, but what strategies can help them break through and conquer critical challenges, such as poverty and political corruption, that continue to afflict the continent’s population? Come to the CIGI Campus to hear distinguished Africa expert Robert Rotberg explain the ways Africa can overcome its governance challenges.
“Catching up with Asia: Africa’s Critical Current Challenges,” is the title of an upcoming lecture by Mr. Rotberg, the Fulbright Research Chair in Political Development at the Basillie School of International Affairs and Visiting Fulbright Scholar at CIGI.
The Centre for International Governance Innovation (CIGI) invites media to cover this upcoming Signature Lecture, taking place on Thursday, March 7, from 7 to 9 p.m.
Mr. Rotberg will discuss how Africa has turned many economic and political corners in recent years. In addition to analyzing the problems Africa needs to face in order to conquer poverty and achieve economic breakthroughs similar to what Asia and Latin America have experienced, Mr. Rotberg will discuss strategies for African leadership and governance to move forward.
Mr. Rotberg is the founding director of the Program on Intrastate Conflict and Conflict Resolution at Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government, and was previously a professor of political science at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, academic Vice President of Tufts University and President Emeritus of the World Peace Foundation. Mr. Rotberg has authored several articles and books on diverse subjects including genocide, corruption, failed states as well as countries such as Burma, Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe and Haiti. He most recently authored Transitional Political Leadership: Making a Difference in the Developing World (University of Chicago Press, 2012) and Africa Emerges: Consummate Challenges, Abundant Opportunities, which is due to be released by Polity Books in May 2013.
Members of the media can register in advance by emailing Kevin Dias, CIGI communications specialist, at [email protected]. Members of the public who want to attend in person can find more information, including how to register, by visiting www.cigionline.org/events. Those who are not in Waterloo or who want to watch the lecture from home can view the live-webcast at no cost by visiting the same link for registration.
Event:
CIGI Signature Lecture: “Catching up with Asia: Africa’s Critical Current Challenges,” featuring Robert Rotberg.
Date:
Thursday, March 7, 2013
Time:
7-9 p.m.
Location:
CIGI Campus
67 Erb Street West
Waterloo, Ontario, Canada
ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Robert I. Rotberg is the inaugural Fulbright Research Chair in Political Development at the Balsillie School of International Affairs and Visiting Fulbright Scholar at CIGI. In autumn 2012, he was the inaugural Fulbright Research Chair at the Norman Paterson School of International Affairs, Carleton University and at the North-South Institute. Robert is the founding director of the Program on Intrastate Conflict and Conflict Resolution at Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government. He is President Emeritus of the World Peace Foundation. He is also a member of the Council on Foreign Relations.
Robert’s most recent books are Africa Emerges: Consummate Challenges, Abundant Opportunities (forthcoming, 2013) and Transformative Political Leadership: Making a Difference in the Developing World (2012). His article “Mobile Phones: Uplifting Weak and Failed States” (with Jenny C. Aker) was published in the winter 2013 issue of The Washington Quarterly. He has written or edited books on other diverse subjects such as Haiti, Burma, Sri Lanka, the Horn of Africa, Zimbabwe, genocide, corruption and failed states.
MEDIA CONTACT:
Kevin Dias, Communications Specialist, CIGI
Tel: 519.885.2444, ext. 7238, Email: [email protected]
The Centre for International Governance Innovation (CIGI) is an independent, non-partisan think tank on international governance. Led by experienced practitioners and distinguished academics, CIGI supports research, forms networks, advances policy debate and generates ideas for multilateral governance improvements. Conducting an active agenda of research, events and publications, CIGI’s interdisciplinary work includes collaboration with policy, business and academic communities around the world. CIGI was founded in 2001 by Jim Balsillie, then co-CEO of Research In Motion (BlackBerry), and collaborates with and gratefully acknowledges support from a number of strategic partners, in particular the Government of Canada and the Government of Ontario. For more information, please visit www.cigionline.org.
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