Elizabeth Cobbett

Dr. Elizabeth Cobbett is a Lecturer in Politics and International Relations at the University of Plymouth, UK. She specializes in African political economy, focusing on financial systems, geopolitical infrastructures, and sovereignty dynamics. Her research explores emerging financial centers in Africa (e.g., South Africa, Kenya, Nigeria, Morocco) and evolving Indian Ocean-Africa infrastructures.

Key projects include The Political Economy of African Financial Centres: The New Realm of Global Finance (Edward Elgar monograph) and analyses of Djibouti’s global security networks. She has held visiting roles at Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (2018) and Carleton University’s Global and International Studies (2019).

Research interests encompass global financial geographies, post-colonial diplomacy (e.g., Canada-Africa relations), and the interplay between sovereignty, security, and economic development. Notable publications address South African financial capture, Canadian development finance strategies, and Djibouti’s geopolitical positioning.

Her work contributes to UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by addressing poverty reduction, global partnerships, and sustainable infrastructure. Awards include the ISA Cox Essay Award (2012) and SSHRC Doctoral Scholarship.