Advertise on podcast: Policy Center for the New South Podcasts

By Alae Jellal & Andreas Østhagen In this episode, Dr. Andreas Østhagen examines how climate change and geopolitical competition are reshaping the Arctic’s strategic importance. The discussion also explores the opportunities and constraints surrounding shipping routes and resource development, alongside the role of the law of the sea. It also considers Russia–NATO tensions and China’s growing involvement, distinguishing economic and scientific interests from long-term strategic positioning.

By Hung Q. Tran & Helmut Sorge Geopolitical competition is reshaping global trade, payment systems, and technological development, creating new challenges for developing countries. Dr. Hung Tran explores how diversification, regional cooperation, and stronger domestic capabilities can help countries such as Morocco navigate this fragmentation. He also examines how adopting AI while maintaining data sovereignty can reduce dependency and safeguard national interests.

By Mehran Haghirian & Raouiae Khouyi In this episode, Mehran Haghirian explores the global economic consequences of disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz, beyond oil and gas. He examines their impact on trade, fertilizer supplies, and food security, highlighting the vulnerabilities of African and other developing economies. The discussion also considers how regional cooperation and stronger economic ties can help build resilience to future shocks.

By Henri-Louis Védie & Oumaïma EL AZAMI EL HASSANI Pourquoi l’or continue-t-il d’inspirer confiance, même lorsque son cours vacille ? Dans cet épisode, Henri-Louis Védie, Senior Fellow au Policy Center for the New South, décrypte les ressorts de son rôle de valeur refuge. Des réserves des banques centrales aux débats sur la dédollarisation, il examine les enjeux économiques et géopolitiques du métal précieux, ainsi que les perspectives pour les pays producteurs africains.

By Abla Zidani & Loubna Edallal Can Nigeria’s Dangote refinery help strengthen Africa’s energy security amid disruptions to global supply routes? This discussion considers how expanding local refining capacity can reduce dependence on imported fuels, retain more value on the continent, and support regional trade. It also assesses the opportunities for Morocco to diversify its jet fuel supplies as its aviation sector expands, while recognizing the limits of a single refinery in advancing Africa’s energy sovereignty.

By Helmut Sorge & Nizar Messari Building on his Policy Brief Latin America, World Politics and the Great Powers, Nizar Messari examines how recent developments are reshaping U.S. influence in the region and affecting Latin American countries’ autonomy. He discusses the pressure on Venezuela and Cuba, Brazil’s efforts to diversify its partnerships, and China’s expanding role. The conversation also considers whether dependency theory still helps explain Latin America’s relations with major powers.

By Helmut Sorge & Ian O. Lesser

By Helmut Sorge & Roméo Boyé Enregistré en marge de la 4ᵉ édition de l’African Economic Symposium (AES), ce podcast explore le rôle de la fiscalité comme levier de transformation économique en Afrique, au-delà de la simple collecte de recettes. Roméo Boyer analyse comment les politiques fiscales peuvent soutenir l’industrialisation, encourager l’investissement et favoriser la formalisation des entreprises. Il aborde également les enjeux d’équité, de confiance dans l’État et de contrat social pour renforcer le financement du développement.

By Alae Jellal & Marcus Vinicius de Freitas

By Helmut Sorge & Mavis Owusu-Gyamfi This podcast explores the central role of human capital in Africa’s economic transformation amid rapid population growth and a youthful demographic. It highlights the challenge of creating quality jobs and the need to better align skills development with labor market needs. The discussion also emphasizes labor mobility, innovative financing for education and healthcare, and the importance of building ecosystems where African talent can thrive.

By Oumaïma EL AZAMI EL HASSANI & Hafez Ghanem يستضيف بودكاست مركز سياسات من أجل الجنوب الجديد الباحث البارز حافظ غانم للحديث عن العلاقة الدائرية بين عدم المساواة وضعف الإنتاجية في بلدان الجنوب الجديد، حيث يغذي كل منهما الآخر في نوع من "الفخ" الذي يصعب الخروج منه. يقترح غانم خمس أولويات لدمج الشباب والنساء (تعليم جيد، ولوج سوق الشغل، خلق فرص عمل، شمول مالي، مشاركة في القرار)، مع التأكيد على ضرورة الجمع بين إصلاحات اقتصادية وشبكات أمان اجتماعي، واستغلال الثورة الرقمية لتقليص الفوارق. ويخلص إلى أنه لا يوجد نموذج تنموي واحد يصلح لجميع الدول، بل يجب أن تُبنى السياسات حسب الموارد الطبيعية والموقع الجغرافي وخصوصيات كل مجتمع.

By Helmut Sorge & Lana Bleik In this episode, Lana Bleik examines how North Africa has become a contested geopolitical hub where external powers (US, China, Russia, Turkey, Gulf states) compete through infrastructure, energy and security ties rather than formal alliances. She highlights water scarcity, desertification and food insecurity as structural drivers of instability, and describes borders in the Sahara-Sahel region as interconnected trafficking and migration corridors requiring intelligence sharing. She also notes uneven AI and cybersecurity preparedness across the region, with Egypt, Morocco and Algeria leading while fragile states like Libya lag behind.

By Helmut Sorge & Arup Banerji In this Episode, Arup Banerji discusses why local expertise—not just international advice—should be intentionally embedded in African development policy. He cites cash transfer programs as an example: the core design came from abroad, but successful adaptation (like dropping conditionalities) relied on local research and context. He also introduces NIA, a new World Bank partnership with African think tanks to turn local research into real policy influence.

By Helmut Sorge & Thembisa Fakude In this episode, Thembisa Fakude discusses what distinguishes influential think tanks from academic research institutions, arguing many African think tanks are shaped—overtly or covertly—by foreign funders (US, China, Russia) pursuing their own agendas. He's skeptical that think tanks can shift global perceptions of Africa, citing elitism and a shift toward desk research over field work, and argues independent journalism does more to safeguard African democracy than think tanks do.

By Helmut Sorge & Kingsley Moghaluc This episode explores the macroeconomic challenges facing African economies, highlighting debt, inflation, exchange rate pressures, and vulnerability to external shocks. Kingsley Moghalu argues that sustainable growth requires more than sound monetary policy, calling for stronger institutions, fiscal discipline, investment in human capital, industrialization, and greater economic self-reliance. He also emphasizes the need for a clear development philosophy to support Africa’s long-term economic transformation.