Britain and Africa in the twenty-first century : between ambition and pragmatism

Britain and Africa in the twenty-first century provides the first analysis of the state of UK Africa policy in the era of austerity, Conservative government and Brexit. It explores how Britain’s relationship with Africa has evolved since the days of Blair, Brown and Make Poverty History and examines how a changing UK political environment, and international context, has impacted upon this long-standing – and deeply complex – relationship. This edited collection provides an indispensable reference point for researchers and practitioners interested in contemporary UK–Africa relations and the broader place of Africa in British politics and foreign policy. Across twelve chapters, the book’s contributors examine how far UK Africa policy has been transformed since the fall of the 1997–2010 Labour Government and how far Conservative, or Conservative-led, Governments have reshaped and re-cast links with the continent. The book includes analyses of UK approaches to diplomacy, security, peacekeeping, trade and international development in, or with, Africa. The contributions, offered by UK- and Africa-based scholars and practitioners, nonetheless take a broader perspective on UK–Africa relations, examining the changing perspectives, policies and actions of political parties, advocacy groups and the UK population itself. The authors argue that the Afro-optimism of the Blair years no longer provides the guiding framework for UK engagement with Africa. It has not, however, been replaced by an alternative paradigm, leaving significant space for different forms of relationship to be built, or reconstructed. The book includes a foreword by Chi Onwurah MP, Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group for Africa. Front matter Contents List of figures and tables List of contributors Foreword Acknowledgements List of abbreviations Introduction: UK Africa policy in the twenty-first century: business as usual? Part I: Africa in UK international relations: trade, aid, development and security The evolution of UK policy to Sub-Saharan Africa, 1997–2019 Africa’s trade with Brexit Britain: neo-colonialism encounters regionalism? The UK and Africa relations: construction of the African Union’s peace and security structures The securitisation of UK aid and DFID programmes in Africa: a comparative case study of Cameroon, Central African Republic, Ethiopia, Kenya and Uganda The UK and peacekeeping operations on the African continent Part II: Africa and UK actors: parties, publics and civil society Rehabilitating the ‘nasty party’? The Conservative Party and Africa from opposition to government Labour, international development and Africa: policy rethinking in opposition The mixed fortunes of African development campaigning under austerity and the Conservatives British campaigns for African development: the Trade Justice Movement International development NGOs, representations in fundraising appeals and public attitudes in UK–Africa relations Conclusions: aspects of continuity and change after New Labour Index Britain and Africa in the twenty-first century provides the first analysis of UK-Africa policy in the era of austerity, Conservative government and Brexit. It explores how Britain's relationship with Africa has evolved since the days of Blair, Brown and "Make Poverty History" and examines how a changing UK political environment, and international context, has impacted upon this longstanding - and deeply complex - relationship. This edited collection includes contributions from leading UK- and Africa-based scholars, as well as from Chatham House's Africa Programme Head and the Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Africa. Examining trade, security, aid and peacekeeping, as well as the role of political parties, advocacy groups and the UK population itself, Britain and Africa provides an indispensable reference point for researchers and practitioners interested in contemporary UK-Africa relations and the place of Africa in British foreign policy. Britain and Africa in the twenty-first century offers the first book-length study of how Britain’s relationship with Africa has fared since the fall of the 1997-2010 New Labour government.