The World Cup provides a unique diplomatic opportunity for North American co-hosts (US, Canada, Mexico) to overcome deep historical and political frictions. Despite ongoing economic tensions and border disputes, the region maintains profound integration, evidenced by $1 trillion in annual cross-border trade and large trans-national populations. The shared cultural experience of major global events can transcend nationalistic divides, allowing leaders to refocus on common ground. Policymakers should leverage such moments to promote cooperation and build social bridges, mitigating geopolitical disputes that threaten continental stability.
Elite capture of Africa’s critical minerals mustn’t be mistaken for resource sovereignty
English Summary
The article argues that genuine resource sovereignty in Africa is not defined by nationalization, but by transparent governance that benefits the citizenry, contrasting this with 'elite capture.' It warns that when narrow political elites seize mineral wealth for personal gain, they often sign opaque deals with malign external actors (e.g., Russia), leading to instability, vulnerability, and external exploitation, as seen in Burkina Faso. For African states to succeed, the focus must be on establishing transparent corporate governance and renegotiating contracts to attract diverse, long-term capital aligned with public development, rather than simply asserting control for a select few.
中文摘要
本文論述，非洲真正的資源主權並非由國有化來定義，而是由有益於公民的透明治理來定義，並將此與「精英俘獲」現象進行對比。文章警告，當狹隘的政治精英為個人利益掠奪礦產財富時，他們往往會與惡意的外部行為者（例如俄羅斯）簽訂不透明的交易，從而導致不穩定、脆弱性，以及外部剝削，正如布吉納法索所見。為使非洲國家取得成功，重點必須放在建立透明的公司治理，並重新協商合約，以吸引與公共發展一致的多元長期資本，而非僅僅為少數人宣稱控制權。
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