Suchergebnisse

Der Maputo-Entwicklungskorridor wurde offiziell im Mai 1996 durch die Staatspräsidenten von Südafrika und Mosambik ins Leben gerufen. Innerhalb von zwei Jahren ist er zum am weitesten fortgeschrittenen und international bekannten Entwicklungskorridor in Afrika geworden. Als Flaggschiff des südafrikanischen Raumentwicklungsprogramms wird die dort angewandte Methode jetzt auch in acht weiteren regionalen Entwicklungsinitiativen in Südafrika verfolgt und zunehmend auch in die Überlegungen anderer afrikanischer Staaten einbezogen. Ziel dieses Beitrags ist eine Analyse der bisher im Rahmen des Maputo Development Corridor gemachten Erfahrungen und der Fortschritte, die bislang im Hinblick auf die Kernziele des Programms erreicht worden sind. (DÜI-Hlb)

Cover -- Half Title -- Title Page -- Copyright Page -- Table of Contents -- Notes on the Contributors -- Acknowledgements -- Abbreviations -- 1. Introduction: Understanding the Dynamics of Micro-regionalism in Southern Africa -- 2. The Maputo Development Corridor: Progress Achieved and Lessons Learned -- 3. Situating the Maputo Corridor: A Regional Perspective -- 4. The Role of the State in the Maputo Development Corridor -- 5. Governance in the Maputo Development Corridor -- 6. Public-Private Partnerships and African Development: The Case of the N4 Toll Road -- 7. The Mozambique Aluminium Smelter: Partnership for Exploitation or Development? -- 8. A View from Maputo -- 9. Conclusion -- Bibliography -- Index.

Launched in 1995, Spatial Development Initiatives (SDIs) are currently the main vehicle used by the South African government to promote regional development. SDI project(s) purport to be short-term and targeted attempts to stimulate "growth" by creating globally competitive spatial entities, new investment, infrastructural development and job creation.

Spatial Development Initiatives (SDIs) form an integral part of the South African government strategy to attract investment. SDIs are claimed to be short-term and targeted undertakings to foster economic growth. This working paper reviews two SDI projects, namely the Maputo Development Corridor (MDC) and the West Coast Investment Initiative (WCII).

This article problematizes the role of the state in what is claimed to be the "flagship" of the South African Spatial Development Initiative (SDI) program, the Maputo Development Corridor (MDC). The purpose is to assess to what extent the state is best understood as a "transmission belt" for transnational capital or as a "facilitator" for development. The study reveals several flaws in the MDC which reinforce the role of the state as a transmission belt for transnational capital, rather than as a facilitator for development. For instance, the neo-liberal market fundamentalism & big-bang approach inherent in the MDC spells "jobless growth." Similarly, the notion that "good governance is less government," implies that the state is to a large extent reduced to an "investment promotion agency." Having said this, the MDC does contain several novel & positive features, & its problematic aspects can be overcome through some strategic changes in the MDC approach. These may be summarized as a heavier focus on "development," a more pro-active state, & more comprehensive & inclusive governance structures. 1 Map, 43 References. Adapted from the source document.

This article problematises the role of the state in what is claimed to be the 'flagship' of the South African Spatial Development Initiative (SDI) programme, the Maputo Development Corridor (MDC). The purpose is to assess to what extent the state is best understood as a 'transmission belt' for transnational capital or as a 'facilitator' for development. The study reveals several flaws in the MDC which reinforce the role of the state as a transmission belt for transnational capital, rather than as a facilitator for development. For instance, the neo-liberal market fundamentalism and big-bang approach inherent in the MDC spells 'jobless growth'. Similarly, the notion that 'good governance is less government', implies that the state is to a large extent reduced to an 'investment promotion agency'. Having said this, the MDC does contain several novel and positive features, and its problematic aspects can be overcome through some strategic changes in the MDC approach. These may be summarised as a heavier focus on 'development', a more pro-active state, and more comprehensive and inclusive governance structures.

Abstract

The Maputo Corridor is the most significant development project undertaken by the South African government since 1994. The Corridor is an extremely complex project, bringing together a variety of actors from South Africa, Mozambique, and beyond. The project includes the rehabilitation and upgrading of major transport and communications infrastructure between Witbank and Maputo, institutional reform to expedite border-crossing, and incentives for labour-intensive investment in the areas adjacent to the Corridor. The Maputo Corridor is also the first build-operate- transfer highway in the region. The Maputo Corridor is a valid and fascinating subject for political inquiry because it provides insight into the new South African government's priorities and ideological stance. Research on the Corridor also contributes to our understanding of political power structures in the region. The primary goal of this dissertation was to come to an understanding of why and how the Maputo Corridor developed. Research was designed to test popular hypotheses from the South African media. These hypotheses were (1) that the Corridor was designed to isolate Gauteng from potential transport-based blackmail by the IFP and (2) that the Corridor was sponsored and directed by the leaders of Mpumalanga Province. This dissertation is composed of four main sections. First, the historical context of the Corridor starting in the 19th century is investigated. Repetitive historical themes with relevance for the present are identified. Second, the leaders and managers of the corridor project are pinpointed. Third, strategic motivations for the corridor in the current political environment are studied. The fourth part consists of an investigation of the means used to implement the Corridor. Several sources of information were used. These sources included indepth interviews with the Corridor's stakeholders, primary documentation, and secondary published sources.