Climate change is undeniable, prompting many countries to respond to this challenge through international cooperation, targeted policies and specialised finance to facilitate transitions away from fossil fuel industries. The latter can be termed climate change resilience, with strategies such as the use of green energy, decarbonisation and moving workers into less fossil fuel intensive industries. However, climate change resilience in African countries is not without its challenges. There are serious and legitimate contentions between various climate change resilience stakeholders.
This special collection critically examines the intersection between African local communities, trade unions, governments and continental institutions in their responses to climate change. It will provide an analysis of the problems that arise at the intersection of various stakeholders. These problems are characterised as the politics of climate change, because they reflect competing ideologies, (in)actions and methods for applying climate change resilience. Where this competition is present, it is important to understand and generate knowledge about the underlying politics. This politics is most obvious in local communities and national governments, and is often complex and contradictory.
Additionally, this special collection will provide a critical analysis of the meaning of climate change resilience for various stakeholders. Regional, continental and international institutions usually ascribe climate change resilience actions to a greater global goal of sustainability. However, their sources of funding, methods, and internal understanding of the climate crisis reveal political dynamics and motives for their actions.
Scope
This special collection seeks papers that explore the politics of climate change in African countries or institutions. This complexity should be demonstrated through critical analysis of ideologies; theories; or, methodological approaches to climate change resilience. In analysing the ideologies, theories and methodological approaches surrounding climate change resilience, the articles should address the following questions:
- How does the use of political ideology advance or inhibit climate change resilience in an African community, amongst stakeholders, within an African country, or a relevant institution?
- How does a political theory explain the intersection of stakeholder responses to climate change?
- How do implemented methodological approaches demonstrate political contradictions or complexities in climate change resilience strategies?
- The articles should be clear about the level of the state or type of institution where the critical analysis occurs. Whether the analysis is a case study of local communities or local governance structures, national or state actions on policies for climate change resilience, the role of regional or continental institutions, papers should articulate where the analysis focuses and explain why this matters for the politics of climate change resilience.
This special collection is particularly interested in contributions from, and/or reflecting case studies in:
-East Africa
-North Africa
-West Africa
Abstract Submission and Publication Timeline
Abstracts of 250 words should be emailed to Thokozani1.chilenga@wits.ac.za.
The deadline for abstract submission is 30 May 2025.
Notification of successful abstracts will be sent by 31 July 2025.
The first draft of the full article is due on 1 December 2025.
