The Horn of Africa

The following address was given by Mr. Waterfield to a jointmeeting of the Royal African Society.and the Royal Empire Societyon October 3, 1957. Mr. B. F. Macdona, vice-chairman of theCouncil of the Royal African Society, was in the chair.     

Black and White Africa--Is there a Frontier on the Limpopo or Zambesi?

The following address was given by Mr. Richard GOOLD-ADAMS ata meeting held on February 4, 1960. Mr. Patrick Wall, M.C.,V.R.D., M.P., took the chair.     

Art in Nigeria

The author, who is British Council representative in the WesternProvinces, wishes to thank Mr. K. C. Murray for checking thedetails on some of the older art-forms. He also wishes to acknowledgethe assistance of the magazine Nigeria, Mr. E. H. Duckworth,for some of the facts and figures. It is regretted that it isnot possible to illustrats this article.     

Our African Territories

This article represents the second half of a speech made ata combined meeting with the Royal Empire Society, on the 27thFebruary. Mr. Creech Jones was deputising, at short notice,for his chief, Mr. George Hall, with Lord Harlech in the chair.The first part of the address was devoted to a general statementof British Colonial principles.     

Social Development in the Gezira Scheme

Mr. Beer is Social Development Officer of the Sudan Gesira Scheme.He gave the address which follows at a joint meeting of theRoyal African and Royal Empire Societies on July 22. He wasintroduced by Mr. Arthur Gaitskell, C.M.G., who presided.     

Dispensing Bounty in Africa

The address that follows was given by Mr. Farrer-Brown, Directorof the Nuffield Foundation, at a joint meeting of the RoyalAfrican Society and the Royal Commonwealth Society on April7, 1960. Mr. Bernard Moore, Head of the External Services NewsDepartment of the British Broadcasting Corporation, took thechair.     

INTERVIEW WITH JIHAD AL-KHAZEN

Mr. Khazen is the editor of al-Hayat, an internationally circulated Arabic-language daily published in London. The following interview was conducted on October 14, 1994, at Mr. Khazen's office in the Hammersmith district of London by Roger Gaess, a free-lance journalist based in New York.     

A Recent Visit to Central Africa

Mr. Wood, the Conservative Member of Parliament who led a parliamentarydelegation which recently visited Central Africa, gave the followingimpressions of visit at a joint meeting of the Royal AfricanSociety and the Royal Empire Society, on November 7, 1957. Mr.James Callaghan, M.P., a Labour Party member of the delegationpresided.     

The New Ghana

Mr. Dennis Austin, of the Institute of Commonwealth Studies,London University, gave the address that follows at a jointmeeting of the Royal African Society and the Royal Common-wealthSociety on November 5, 1959. Mr. David Williams, editor of "WestAfrica‘, ’, took the chair.     

Whither Mr Abe's Japan?

This article reviews Japan's strategic options and policy initiatives under Prime Minister Abe, taking into consideration strategic changes in the region; chiefly a rising China and a United States approaching geopolitical retreat, and the policy implications of these developments. Mr Abe's announced goal is to restore Japan to its once great power status, and thus far success is proving elusive.

MAIN ARGUMENT

Hurdles in Mr Abe's path include the differing perceptions between Japan and its neighbours regarding Japan's history, and the deeply entrenched nature of these differences pose a significant barrier. A related aspect is the territorial disputes. A second task is to be a “normal” nation, that is exercising greater independence in security matters and matters of economic policy, and here differences arise with Japan's main ally, the United States. Furthermore Mr Abe also needs to convince the Japanese public as well as Japan's prospective allies about his views regarding Japan's security role in the region. A third task is to increase Japan's economic weight by turning around the Japanese economy from its existing stasis to sustained, robust growth.

POLICY IMPLICATIONS

Mr Abe is making urgent policy efforts in all directions and the rather uneven outcome experienced thus far has not deterred him, thus creating uncertainty for Japan, and enhancing the feeling of insecurity in the region. The ostensible policy choice facing Mr Abe now is to either persist with his existing policies, hence entrenching the increasing tensions in the region, or to accept a rapidly rising China and formulate policies more accommodative of that development.     

Corrigendum

In the short note published in the last issue, ‘The SeventiethAnniversary of the Founding of the Royal African Society’it was erroneously stated that Mr Swanzy had been editor ofthe Society's journal ‘for many years before 1944’and Alan Gray from 1944 to 1966. Mr Swanzy points out that his editorship ran from 1944 to 1954,when he was succeeded by Alan Gray. It was in fact he who renamedthe journal African Affairs to differentiate its content fromthat of the International African Institute, and who institutedthe valuable, though exacting, feature ‘Quarterly Notes’. Mr Swanzy himself contributed to the 1951 Jubilee number animportant review of the Royal African's Society's history tothis date. The editors much regret these substantial errors and omissions,and are glad to be reminded of them.     

The Putin Thesis and Russian Energy Policy

A specialist on Russian politics and society analyzes Russian President Vladimir Putin's academic work on mineral resources in the Russian economy. Mr. Putin defended a kandidat dissertation in economics and subsequently published an article outlining his view of the appropriate role of the Russian state, and of vertically integrated financial-industrial groups, in the mineral resource sector, and particularly in the oil and gas industry. Connections are drawn between the views expressed in Mr. Putin's publications and policy during his second presidential term.     

Obituary: THE LATE SIR DOUGAL MALCOLM

This tribute by Mr. Amery to an old friend was written onlya few days before he himself died at his London home at theage of 81. Although Mr. Amery did not play an active part inthe affairs of the Royal African Society his name was a householdone to its members as, indeed, it was in every institution connectedwith the Commonwealth. His loss was felt as keenly by the Societyas it was by any, and it surely is not out of place that weshould record it, however briefly-here. Spare, dynamic, directand indefatigable, few statesmen have signed the face of Commonwealthhistory with -such vivid devotion to highest principles.     

Kenya's Answer to the Mau Mau Challenge

This is an abridged version of a lecture to a joint meetingon 25th March. Mr. Alport, who is Chairman of the Joint EastAfrica Board, went on the Parliamentary Delegation to Kenyaat the beginning of the year.     

The Future Possibilities of Ethiopian Commerce and Industry

This article is a summary of the lecture given at a combinedmeeting of the Royal Empire and Royal African Societies on the25th October. Mr. Bethell is Adviser on Commerce to the EthiopianGovernment.     

The Effects of Urbanisation in South and Central Africa

This represents the bulk of a lecture on the 10th July, underthe Chairmanship of Lord Hailey. Mr. Rheinallt Jones is Presidentof the South African Institute of Race Relations, and Advisoron Native Affairs to the Anglo-American Corporation.     

A Fair Return to Farmers

This address by the tobacco representative for S. Rhodesia wasgiven, under the Chairmanship of Mr. A. D. Dodds-Parker, M.P.,on the 27th July.     

Africa's New Look

This address was given by the colonial editor of "The Times"to a joint meeting of the Royal African Society and Royal EmpireSociety on April 4, 1957. Mr. Arthur Gaitskell, C.M.G., presided.     

Britain and the Middle East

The address that follows was given before a joint meeting ofthe Royal African Society and the Royal Commonwealth Societyon December 4 1958. Mr. Richard Goold- Adams took the Chair     

Housing in a Gambia Village

Mr. Rees is a Sanitary Superintendent who in 1948 made a reporton cheap improvements in village housing in the Gambia. A sampleincluded a village of the Mandinka, with a population of 450.