Press release Issued: 18/09/2015 For Immediate Release
Hydraulic fracturing is a controversial technique to extract resources. While there is some
evidence that fracking contributes to economic growth within the United States, there are
many more challenges of governance in the developing world. However, few studies consider
the prospects for governance of fracking in the developing world, in particular in African
countries that are rich in shale gas. The research published in Governance in Africa presents a
conceptual framework to analyze hydraulic fracturing in Africa, applying it to the cases of
South Africa and Botswana.
Ilia Murtazashvili and Caitlin Corrigan (Graduate School of Public and International Affairs,
University of Pittsburgh) here present concerns surrounding the environmental and ecological
consequences of hydraulic fracturing that have accompanied the shale boom in developed countries at the forefront of shale exploration and production. These environmental and ecological consequences may be of even greater concern in developing countries compared to more developed regions, due to reduced governance capacity. Their research presents a conceptual framework that specifies several variables that are expected to contribute to sustainable hydraulic fracturing, using the framework to characterize the prospects for sustainable hydraulic fracturing in South Africa and Botswana. The framework and evidence clarifies the institutional capacity and institutional challenges confronting the sub-Saharan African countries as extraction of natural resources using hydraulic fracturing begins in earnest.
This article is fully open access and available at: http://dx.doi.org/10.5334/gia.aj
Suggested citation: Corrigan, C. & Murtazashvili, I. (2015) Governance of Fracking in
Africa. Governance in Africa. 2(1): Art 4. http://dx.doi.org/10.5334/gia.aj
Articles published in Governance in Africa can also be read, 100% free at
http://www.govafricajournal.org/.
For more information, contact: Christine Cubitt, Editor-in-Chief, [email protected]
Notes to editors
1. Governance in Africa provides an alternative form of academic journal offering free access to
research and expert commentary from leading and emerging authors in the field, and from those who have direct experience of the impacts of governance in Africa today. In this context, ‘governance’ in Africa refers to the local/traditional, the national, the regional and the global. All content is 100% open access to ensure the widest possible distribution without paywalls
2. Ubiquity Press is an open access publisher of peer-reviewed, academic journals. Head office: 6
Windmill Street, London W1T 2JB.
3. More information about the Graduate School of Public and International Affairs can be found at
https://www.gspia.pitt.edu/AboutGSPIA/tabid/59/Default.aspx