Africa and the New World Era : From Humanitarianism to a Strategic View

Over the last decade, there has been a shift toward a strategic view of Africa. China and the US import much of their oil from Africa which is clearly emerging on the world stage as a strategic player. Africa and the New World Era probes the importance and significance of this shift and its implications for Africa's international relations. Front Matter....Pages i-xiii Introduction....Pages 1-17 Front Matter....Pages 19-19 Imperialism and U.S.-Africa Relations....Pages 21-35 Britain and Africa in the Twenty-First Century....Pages 37-51 Is France Disengaging from Africa? A Critical Look at Nicolas Sarkozy’s “Rupture” Policy in the Context of France-Africa Relations....Pages 53-70 Back to Africa: Russia’s New African Engagement....Pages 71-83 Front Matter....Pages 85-85 Africa’s International China Relations: Contending Imaginaries and Changing Politics....Pages 87-102 Japan in Africa: Diplomacy of Continuity and Change....Pages 103-113 India’s New Engagement of Africa: Trends and Implications....Pages 115-128 Latin America-Africa Cooperation: Brazil as a Case Study....Pages 129-141 Front Matter....Pages 143-143 The Evolving UN-Africa Relations since the End of the Cold War....Pages 145-156 The World Bank for Africa or the World Bank for the World Bank?....Pages 157-165 The European Union and Africa: Old Partners in a Changing World....Pages 167-191 The African Union as an International Actor....Pages 193-205 Front Matter....Pages 207-207 New Encounters in U.S.-Africa Democracy Relations: Less of the Same?....Pages 209-230 U.S. AIDS Policy in Africa: Balancing Competing Interests in PEPFAR Policymaking....Pages 231-246 The Impact of the Global Economic Crisis on Africa....Pages 247-261 Can Sub-Saharan Africa Achieve the Millennium Development Goals?....Pages 263-280 Back Matter....Pages 281-289 Over the past decade, Africa's center of gravity in world politics has shifted from mere humanitarianism to a strategic view that posits the centrality of the continent as energy and natural resources supplier, in the fight against terrorism and other security threats, and in the globalization of culture. Besides these considerations, this shift is reflective of two defining dynamics. On one hand, political and economic reforms have contributed to the growth of democracy, an improvement in the economic outlook, and the strengthening of regional governance. On the other hand, the ongoing diffus