William Gilbert - Catalyst

Lessons from Botswana’s Misrepresented Development

November 15, 2022November 14, 2022 William Gilbert

Investigating Botswana's success with development can reveal its nuanced history and warn us about what lessons to take from it, especially considering that policies which work in certain contexts may fail in others.

We Should Pay Poor Countries to Keep Oil in the Ground

October 23, 2022October 22, 2022 William Gilbert

While certain countries are resource-rich in oil and gas, they face a dilemma amidst increasing calls for decarbonization. Developed countries are urging their neighbors, even the poorest, to transition towards a green economy through bold emissions targets aimed at bypassing the climate crisis.

In U.S.-Cuba Relations, Both Sides Must Reform

September 1, 2022August 31, 2022 William Gilbert

Many have denounced the counterproductive nature of American foreign policy towards Cuba and its people. In fact, the policy remains one of the most nonsensical and severe policies of the United States, one passed on through numerous administrations out of … Continue reading

The ANC’s Policy Incoherence Threatens South Africa’s Future

August 4, 2022November 15, 2022 William Gilbert

If the country is to solve the legacies of Apartheid, like massive inequality, underdevelopment, weak governance, and insecurity, the ANC must rectify its incoherent cadre deployment lest the country continue on a path of instability and uncertainty.

The War in Ukraine is Spurring on Ethiopia’s Goal of Food Self-Sufficiency

July 14, 2022July 13, 2022 William Gilbert

The invasion of Ukraine has demonstrated the fragility of global supply chains and the risks of over-reliance on a few countries for goods as essential as food. Ethiopia’s efforts to increase its output of wheat is a part of a larger movement in Africa to ensure food security.

Africa’s New Trade Agreement: One Year On

April 29, 2022September 23, 2022 William Gilbert

By 2021, a broad framework of the agreement had finally been formulated and trade began the same year– the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) was now in force. Now a year into the effective implementation of only some of the key aspects of the deal, the future remains turbulent and uncertain for a complete and harmonious application of the deal’s core principles and general spirit.

A “Developmental Opportunity” for Africa

April 1, 2022September 23, 2022 William Gilbert

Post-pandemic populism is an opportunity for African leaders to implement a previously repressed state-directed economic development approach while upholding the virtues of democracy, including equity and justice.

Gambians Deserve an Equitable Post-Pandemic Society

March 14, 2022March 14, 2022 William Gilbert

Clearly, the economic and democratic problems that The Gambia faces in this nearly post-pandemic environment are significant. What are some possible solutions?