Dr Maurice Beseng PhD, MA, MSc, Pg.D, BSc.

Dr Maurice Beseng

International Development Department
Assistant Professor

Contact details

Email
m.beseng@bham.ac.uk
Twitter
@mubeseng
View my research portal
Address
Muirhead Tower
University of Birmingham
Edgbaston
Birmingham
B15 2TT
UK

Maurice Beseng is Assistant Professor in International Development, with interest in people’s engagement with and experiences of the ocean, maritime security and sustainability. Much of his work has focused on understanding coastal communities’ experiences and responses to global maritime change, politics and equity in the blue economy. His other research work has focused on the agency of civil society organisation in conflict resolution and peacebuilding 

Qualifications

  • PhD in Development Studies, 2019
  • Associate Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, 2017
  • MA in Conflict and Peace Studies, 2008
  • Joint European MSc in Water & Coastal Management, 2007
  • Pg.D  Gender and Development Studies,  2004.
  • BSc Botany and Environmental Sciences, 2000.
  • Associate Institute of Environmental Management & Assessment (IEMA), 2024

Biography

Maurice Beseng completed a PhD in Development Studies from Coventry University in 2019. His PhD research examined fisheries-maritime security nexus and the implications on local livelihood and sustainable development in Cameroon, Gulf of Guinea region-West & Central Africa.

Prior to joining IDD, Maurice was Research Associate at the Institute for Global Sustainable Development (IGSD), University of Sheffield on the AfriCultuReS project, where he worked on end-user engagement and capacity development in the development and use of remote-sensing products and services to combat food insecurity in Africa.  He also worked as was a Postdoctoral Research Fellow in African Politics and Economics of Wildlife Trade at the University of Oxford Wildlife Conservation Research Unit (WildCRU), were he explored the connection between global donkey skin trade and wildlife trade and the implications on food security and livelihoods of donkey-dependent communities in Africa.

Teaching

Maurice leads and teaches on the following modules:

  • Understanding Development Assistance (UG Yr2)
  • Development Cooperation Beyond Aid (PG)
  • Development in Practice (PG)

Postgraduate supervision

Dr Beseng welcomes enquiries from prospective doctoral researchers in his areas of interest:

  • Drivers of maritime crime (illegal, unreported & unregulated fishing, fisheries crime)
  • Maritime security governance
  • Blue economy and environmental justice
  • Pollution and sustainability in fisheries

Research

  • Co-Investigator: The Shrinking Civic Space and the Role of Civil Society Organisations in the Resolution of Ongoing “Anglophone” Conflict in Cameroon (Nov 2019-June 2020)
  • Primary Investigator:  Curbing the proliferation of plastics from “Ghost Gear”: Engaging artisanal fisherfolks and civil society in education, capacity building in the creation of peer support groups in recycling fishing gears in Southwest Cameroon (Dec 2018-Mar 2019)- Blue Charter Fellowships, Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU).

Publications

Journal articles

  • Su, S., Macdonald, E. A., Arcilla, N., Beseng, M., Thomaz, F., & Macdonald, D. W. (2023). Characterising the links between the trade in donkey skins for traditional Chinese medicine and timber of conservation concern. Global Ecology and Conservation, 46, e02598.
  • Beseng, M., Crawford, G., & Annan, N. (2023). From ‘Anglophone Problem’ to ‘Anglophone Conflict’ in Cameroon: Assessing Prospects for Peace. Africa Spectrum, DOI: 10.1177/00020397231155244.
  • Su S, Macdonald, E. A, Beseng, M, Thomaz, F. & Macdonald, D. W. (2022) “The link between wildlife trade and the global donkey skin product network” Conservation Science and Practice DOI: 10.1111/csp2.12676
  • Annan, A., Beseng, M., Crawford, G., & Kiven, J. K. (2021) Civil society, peacebuilding from below and shrinking civic space: the case of Cameroon’s ‘Anglophone’ conflict, Conflict, Security & Development, https://doi.org/10.1080/14678802.2021.1997454
  • Beseng, M., & James Malcolm (2021): Maritime security and the securitisation of fisheries in the Gulf of Guinea: experiences from Cameroon, Conflict, Security & Development, DOI:10.1080/14678802.2021.1985848
  • Beseng, M. (2021). “The Nature and Scope of Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated Fishing and Fisheries Crime in Cameroon: Implications for Maritime Security”. African Security, 1-24. DOI:10.1080/19392206.2021.1982241
  • Beseng, M., (2019). “Cameroon’s choppy waters: The anatomy of fisheries crime in the maritime fisheries sector”. Marine Policy, 108, 103669. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpol.2019.103669

Book Chapters

  • Fonchingong C, and Beseng, M. (2015). ‘Space Partners or Mortal Enemies: Contentious Lands, Farmer–Grazier Conflicts and Women’s Militancy in Cameroon’, Lumumba-Kasongo, T (ed), Land Reforms and Natural Resource Conflicts in Africa: New Development Paradigms in the Era of Global Liberalization, Routledge, London. ISBN 10: 1138888826.
  • Fonchingong, C, Yenshu, B, & Beseng, M. (2008). ‘Traditions of Women’s Social Protest Movements and Collective Mobilisation: Lessons from Aghem and Kedjom Women. In V. B Yenshu, ed. Civil Society and Search for Development Alternatives in Cameroon’. Senegal: CODESRIA, p.125-141

Published reports

  • Kiven, J., Crawford, G., Beseng, M., & Nancy Annan (2021). “Shrinking Civic Space and the Role of Civil Society in Resolution of Conflict in Anglophone Cameroon”. Coventry University and African Leadership Centre, Coventry, UK 

Blogs

  • Gordon, G., Beseng, M., Annan, A., (2023). "War and no peace in Southern Cameroons". Africa is a Country
  • Gordon, C. and Beseng, M. (2023). Cameroon’s anglophone conflict has lasted for six years: what citizens say about how to end it. The Conversation, Africa.
  • Nancy, A, Beseng, M., Gordon, C., (2023). "Civil Society Contributions towards the Resolution of the
  • Anglophone Conflict in Cameroon". The Peace News Network.
  • Beseng, M. (2021). “How illegal fishing off Cameroon’s coast worsens maritime security”, The Conversation, Africa.
  • Beseng, M. (2019) “Cameroon Can’t Afford to Continue Ignoring Crime in Fisheries Sector”. The Conversation, Africa.

View all publications in research portal