Inaugural lecture delivered August 2011.Includes bibliographyAfter matriculating from the Settler’s High School in Bellville,
Scarlett Cornelissen studied at the Universities of Rhodes
and Cape Town. She obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Social
Science from the University of Cape Town in 1995. Two years
later she obtained a Master’s degree in International Studies (cum
laude) from Stellenbosch University. She was awarded a grant by
the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission to pursue doctoral
studies in the United Kingdom, and in 2002 she obtained a PhD
from the University of Glasgow. Scarlett works in the field of
International Relations and specialises in two topics – the changing
dimensions of Africa’s political economy and its relationship to
development; and the impacts of Asian (specifically Japanese) economic cooperation
with sub-Saharan Africa. In relation to the former she has explored Africa’s
connection to the global economy through key industries such as tourism. She has also
looked at the way in which African countries have adopted major, strategic projects
of global repositioning through, inter alia, mega-projects and mega-events. As part of
her second research focus, Scarlett has conducted extensive empirical work on Asian
investments in and development assistance to Africa. In 2009 Scarlett received the
National Research Foundation’s President’s Award, and was evaluated as a P-rated
researcher.National Research Foundation’s President’s AwardPublishers' versio
