Geopolitical drivers of foreign investment in African land and water resources

Abstract

Resource grabs, particularly land and water, can be a proxy for geopolitical influence. As such, 'grabs' become intertwined in international power relations and the competing collective goals and state priorities of economic development, poverty elimination, ecosystem management, energy, self-sufficiency, and food supply stability. African land has become the most appealing and vulnerable to acquisition. In this article we will analyze external investor actions in Africa by South Africa to explain how regional and global geopolitics are fostering a 'new' scramble for natural resources on the African continent. This south-south geopolitical concern examines South Africa's investment in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Lesotho. We argue that 'grabbing' is important, but often it is not the foremost factor in south-south relations and, as such, is an inadequate basis for exploring the role of domestic capital and government investment corporations. We contend that grabbing is not only about food, finances, energy, or even water itself, but also about geopolitical influence. Land and water resource acquisition become intertwined in international power relations and the competing goals of state priorities. This article uses an International Relations framework to analyze these complex relationships, spheres of influence, and asymmetries. Its central argument is that countries with limited arable land 'securitize' (B. Buzan, O. Waever, & J. de Wilde [Eds.], 1998, Security: A framework for analysis, Hemel Hempstead: Harvester Wheatsheaf) their food supply and seek ways to increase the supply of food and sources of 'virtual' water by targeting 'easy targets' for resource imperialism, like weak states.

Drivers and challenges for transnational land–water–food investments by the Middle East and North Africa region

“…For a water scarce region such as MENA with high dependence on virtual water “imports originate from outside the region, thus determining a marked dependency on water resources available elsewhere, but not always from water‐secure countries” (Antonelli et al, , p. 199). Hence, an often forgotten dimension in transnational land–water investments is how they can play a role in “hydro‐politics” “drawing out the complex power relationships and geopolitics behind international water interdependencies” (Warner, Sebastian, & Empinotti, in Sebastian & Warner, , p. 2). “When the grabbed land is irrigated, the associated appropriation of freshwater resources can reduce the availability of irrigation water in the surrounding and downstream farmland areas, with the potential effect of causing water stress, poor water quality, and social unrest” (Rulli, Saviori, & D'Odorico, , p. 892).…”

Post‐1994 South Africa's peacekeeping and military intervention in Southern Africa, reference from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Lesotho

“…This is where with the assistance of South Africa and Rwanda cited as being the Rally for Congolese Democracy (RCD‐Goma ) sponsor was brought in to try and persuade the rebels to come to an agreement, this ultimately paved the way for an all‐inclusive agreement in December 2002 (Joseph, ). According to Sebastian and Warner (), the Sun City meeting eventually led to the drafting of the DRC's first constitution and its first democratic elections in 2006, which was considered a major achievement by the democratic South African government.…”

“…This is where with the assistance of South Africa and Rwanda cited as being the Rally for Congolese Democracy (RCD-Goma 3 ) sponsor was brought in to try and persuade the rebels to come to an agreement, this ultimately paved the way for an all-inclusive agreement in December 2002 (Joseph, 2016). According to Sebastian and Warner (2015),…”

The Business of Water: Market Environmentalism in the Water Sector

“…Water grabbing entails the diversion of water resources by companies (and in some instances governments) without due process and/or appropriate compensation, thereby depriving local communities that depend on water for livelihoods. Recent interest in water grabbing has arisen because of the trend in land grabbing associated with large-scale agricultural investments for biofuel and food production, often driven by food speculation and/or extraterritorial strategies for increasing food security by actors from relatively wealthy yet land-or water-poor countries (e.g., Saudi Arabia, China) that purchase land and/or water rights in low-and middle-income countries (96)(97)(98).…”