Research

I am primarily interested in changes in the global economy and how it affects developing countries (especially in Africa). My research draws on international political economy approaches. I have recently finalised two large research projects: one on the economic and political consequences (locally as well as globally) of the rejuvenation of South-South cooperation; and one on state-business relations, local content policies, and the role of natural resources for development in Zambia. Currently I’m engaged in a large-scale research project on Everyday Humanitarianism in Tanzania with colleagues from University of Dar es Salaam, Copenhagen Business School and Roskilde University.

I am currently the Dean of Social Sciences and heading the Department of Social Sciences and Business, Roskilde University.

My books include South-South Development (Routledge, 2019); and Africa’s Shadow Rise: China and the Mirage of African Development (Zed Books, 2020). I have published articles in inter alia: Area Development and Policy, Cambridge Review of International Affairs, Cornell International Law Journal, Development and Change, Development Policy Review, European Journal of Development Research, Forum for Development Studies, Resources Policy, Review of African Political Economy, Journal of Modern African Studies, The Extractive Industries and Society, and Third World Quarterly.

Scholar.google profile 

Interests

General: Global political economy, economic development, humanitarian assistance and development interventions.

Specific: South-South Cooperation, private sector development, development aid, and resource extraction.

Theoretical: Political economy, state-business relations, and institutional economy.

Disciplinary: Development studies.

Geographic: Low income countries, sub-Saharan Africa, Ghana, Tanzania, and Zambia.

Current research

• Chinese engagement and local policy making in Zambia
• South-South cooperation
• Extractive industries, local linkages and development in Africa
• Everyday HUmanitarianism in Tanzania

Academic background

2006:             PhD, International Development Studies, Roskilde University

1998:             M.Sc. Economic Geography, Institute of Geography, University of Copenhagen

Employment record

05/2020-: Dean of Social Sciences, Roskilde University

01/2016-: Head of Department, Department of Social Sciences and Business, Roskilde University

12/2014-12/2015: Head of Department, Department of Society and Globalisation, Roskilde University

06/2011-: Associate Professor, Department of Society and Globalisation, Roskilde University

02/2009-06/2011: Assistant Professor, Department of Society and Globalisation, Roskilde University

09/2006-01/2009: External lecturer, Centre for African Studies, University of Copenhagen.

09/2006-12/2006: External lecturer, Institute of Geography, University of Copenhagen

11/2005-01/2009: Project Researcher, Danish Institute for International Studies, Copenhagen

12/2001-03/2005: PhD Researcher, Danish Institute for International Studies, Copenhagen & International Development Studies, Roskilde University

02/2000-06/2000: Teaching assistant, Institute of Geography, University of Copenhagen

03/1999-11/2001: Head of Section, Centre of African Studies, University of Copenhagen

Professional responsibilities

Board member of Care Danmark, 2015- (Chairmain of the programme committee, 2018-)

Board member of Dignity, 2014-2018 (Chairman 2016-2018)

Member of EADI Executive Committee, 2014-2017 

Head of International Development Research Group, RUC, 2013-2014

Head of Studies, International Development Studies and Global Studies, RUC, 2011-2013

Member of UNDP Human Development Report 2013 expert panel

Member of OECD’s expert panel for the 2011 African Economic Outlook Report: ‘Africa and its emerging partners’.

Occasional reviewer for the following scientific journals and publishers: African Affairs, Africa Today, Area Development and Policy, Asian Journal of Comparative Politics, Asia Pacific Viewpoint, Cambridge Review of International Affairs, Development and Change, Development Policy Review, European Journal of Development Research, Forum for Development Studies, International Journal of Health Policy, International Journal of Planning and Development, James Currey, Journal of Asian and African Studies, Journal of Business Ethics, Journal of Contemporary African Studies, Mineral Economics, New Political Economy, Palgrave Macmillan, Review of International Political Economy, The Extractives Industry and Society, Third World Quarterly, World Development, and Zed Books.

External examinar at Geography (University of Copenhagen and Aalborg University) and Centre of African Studies (University of Copenhagen), 2013- (deputy chairmain since 2018).

External examiner at Political Science (University of Copenhagen, Aarhus University and Southern Danish University), 2013-2017.

Member of the Reference Group for the 'Retrospective study of the outcome of three decades of Danida support to development research and research capacity building' established by the Danida Fellowship Centre (2018)

Member of the Reference Group for the ’Evaluation of the Business-to-Business Programme 2006-2011’ established by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (2013-2014)

Member of the Reference Group for the ’Ghana Country Programme Evaluation’ established by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (2007-2008)

Member of the Reference Group for futher strengthening and developing Danida's Private Sector Development Programme established by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (2005).

PhD supervision

Johanna Jansson (2010-2016): ‘When Chinese development finance met IMF's public debt norm in DR Congo’

Adam Moe fejerskov (2013-2016): ‘No organization is an island: the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation's entrance into the field of international development cooperation’

Wisdom Kaleng'a (2013-): 'An investigation of supplier firms’ technological capabilities and performance in a changing Zambian mining sector environment'

Camilla Valeur Nygaard (2017-): 'In search of the developmental enterprise: a study of foreign direct investments in East Africa supported by the Danish DFI Danish Development Fund for Developing Countries'