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The restructuring of the international economy and development of global supply chains has altered the routes and manner in which goods are traded. The port infrastructure that connects economies to the system of global trade has changed significantly in response to containerization of manufactured trade. The financing of port development has also evolved as governments have transferred investment responsibilities to the private sector. This paper proposes that changes in the global economy, maritime industry, and port financing models have created barriers to port development for countries on the global periphery. While this paper recognizes that port infrastructure is not the only determinant of economic development, it stresses that these barriers have a direct influence on a country's ability participate in multinational production processes. ..PAT.-Unpublished Manuscript [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article examines the implications of infringement on the sovereignty agreement of Chad, as well as the motivations of the Chadian government. An overview of the agreement entered into by the government of Chad that will reduce its sovereignty and reintroduce strong foreign interests in the domestic affairs of the country, is presented. It also aims to show that the Chad-Cameroon pipeline agreement represents a form of sovereignty exchanging or swapping that alters the sovereign position of Chad's government.

This paper discusses the convergence of Arab and African geopolitical interests in the Horn of Africa. Using Djibouti as an example, it emphasizes how Afro/Arab identities shape interactions in the region. Djibouti's internal dynamics are impacted by diverse political, cultural, and linguistic influences. French and Arabic are the official languages, but Somali is widely spoken and the country's leaders have strong ties to Somalia. Djibouti is a member of the League of Arab States and the African Union, leaving questions about where its geopolitical interests are focused. Furthermore, because the United States and France maintain military installations in Djibouti, the country has become an important location in global military efforts to curb terrorism and piracy. Finally, Djibouti's position along one of the world's busiest trade routes has allowed its port to become a key part in global maritime trade. This leaves the country with a difficult balancing act in its international relations. It must respond to domestic constituents with interests that may be at odds with its regional neighbors, all while maintaining its role as a host for international military activities and trade. In this balancing act, the country's identity is pulled in not only an Arab or African direction, but sometimes in both, and increasingly towards a new global direction. ..PAT.-Unpublished Manuscript [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Can leaders of developing countries strengthen the power of their nation-states by cooperating with international and non-governmental actors for natural resource extraction?The use of natural resources to generate revenues for development within less-developed countries has increasingly been subject to domestic and international scrutiny. Developing countries? history of mismanagement and corruption has prompted lenders to demand that revenues be managed and disbursed in a transparent manner as well as be directed towards poverty alleviation. Countries such as Chad have been forced to implement new laws and an innovative framework for revenue management in order to obtain funding for costly investments in natural resource extraction infrastructure. These measures have opened up decision making processes, which had previously been exclusive to the nation-state, to new actors including civil society and international financial institutions. The powers that have historically been at the discretion of the nation-state are now frequently shared with external actors. This paper will first look at the history of natural resources as a source of strengthening the nation-state. It will then examine the motivations for developing nation-states to relinquish partial control over development policy in exchange for project financing. Finally, the paper will conclude by suggesting that by allowing external actors such as the World Bank and civil society to share the state?s traditional development responsibilities, leaders will be rewarded with stability, security, and an empowered position due to the increase in resources at their disposal. By weakening certain aspects of the nation-state, leaders will be able to continue their reliance on natural resources to strengthen the nation-state as a whole. ..PAT.-Conference Proceeding [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]