Asian Powers and the New Scramble for the Continent: An Introduction
Zambakari, Christopher, ed. 2020. Courting Africa: Asian Powers and the New Scramble for the Continent: An Introduction Edited by Steve Des Georges, Matthew Edwards and Giada Mannino. Vol. 3, Summer 2020 Special Issue. Phoenix, Arizona: The Zambakari Advisory
6 Pages Posted: 1 Jul 2020
Date Written: June 1, 2020
Abstract
Africa has gone through two previous “scrambles”: in the 19th century when the continent was divided among European colonial powers, and then during the Cold War, as the continent found itself once again at the center of the confrontation between the global superpowers of the United States and the Soviet Union. Today, a new scramble is underway, and Africa is once again at the center of a global contest due to a growing engagement between African countries and emerging Asian powers.
Along with the new scramble is the notion that Africa is rising, not least due to the significant size of its 1.2 billion-person market. The speed with which the courting of Africa has taken place has surprised scholars, alarmed policymakers and been celebrated by many in Africa and Asia. Governments and businesses have rushed to establish relationships with governments of African States while also seeking to strengthen strategic and commercial ties. The West has expressed considerable concern about Asia’s, and in particular China’s, entry into African economies. However, many African leaders do not share in the forebodings of the West and instead have enthusiastically welcomed China’s growing economic footprint on the continent.
The Zambakari Advisory is pleased to publish its Summer 2020 Special Issue: “Courting Africa: Asian Powers and the New Scramble for the Continent.” To produce a quality perspective and shine a nuanced light on this “scramble,” we invited prominent scholars to think about Africa’s relationship with one of its biggest trading partners in Asia. We asked scholars, researchers, policymakers, advocates and business leaders to consider the growing relationship between Africa and Asian powers and to assess and qualify the rise of Asia’s involvement and the implications for Africa.
This collection features eight original articles contributed by such respected voices as Celine Sui, Matthew Edwards, Lina Benabdallah, Ibrahim Sakawa Magara, Hubert Kinkoh, Daniel N. Mlambo, Victor H. Mlambo, Stephen Blank, Akok Manyuat Madut and Prakash Paudel.
The rise of Asian powers raises questions of historic significance for Africa and the world. Can the reemerging Asia-centered ascension provide solutions to the problems left behind by European and American hegemony? What does the rise of Asian powers mean for emerging African countries? What are the prospects, challenges and lessons of Asia’s ascension for Africa? How can African countries benefit from the growing social, political, cultural and economic ties with Asian powers? How can Asian powers benefit from social, political and economic collaboration, partnerships and investments into African economies?
Keywords: Africa, Colonialism, Scramble, Asia, China, Japan, Intervention, the Principle of Non-Interference, Military, Development, Trade, Economy, Belt and Road Initiative, Asian Powers
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