China has reached a critical point in its development. Widespread poverty and growing social inequality are posing daunting challenges for social stability. The Chinese government seems aware of this, but needs to do more to empower the people to participate in the reform process.

From 26 to 28 February an international conference, ‘Knowledge on the Move: Research for development in a globalizing world’, will take place at the International Institute of Social Studies (ISS) in The Hague.

It is generally accepted that globalization (or trade liberalization) is leading to greater inequalities worldwide, although the causes and solutions (if any) are heavily debated. There is less certainty about the spatial distribution of these inequalities. Is the greatest gap still between the North and South, a premise that has been the basis of development cooperation for the last 40 years? Or are the most serious disparities to be found within countries, between urban and rural areas, as others have recently demonstrated?

Is Africa sick? Some Africans may suffer from diseases, but to refer an entire continent to the sickbay makes no sense. There are problems, to be sure. Corruption, a bad business climate and the disadvantages of being landlocked can all be easily diagnosed. As can some harmful conditions imposed from the outside, such as market access restrictions or, at the other extreme, too much liberalization.