The Scramble for Africa in the 21st Century edition by Michael Power Harry Stephan Politics Social Sciences eBooks
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“[This new edition of] The Scramble for Africa uses tools of international political economy to clarify the challenges of development in today’s Africa – from managing mounting demand for the region’s natural resources and land, to navigating the turbulence of global capital and trade flows. It critically analyses the sources and sustainability of the current African growth path – and explains why they are crucial for South Africa’s foreign and economic policy debates.”
As the title of this new volume avers, Africa is heading in a direction towards the New World and away from the Old. As Africa emerges from the ravishes of the Great Recession, African elites find themselves at a crossroad that requires new economic and institutional models to build capacity. Finding these signposts and the concomitant roadmap on the way forward is not only the intellectual exercise that underpins this volume, but also a means to test the economic and political theories that have been proposed in the Scramble series since the global credit crunch began. Will Africa rise above the proverbial economic waterline or drop back to Fanon’s imagery of the colonized bailing for dear life?
The core aim of this volume is to indicate that Africa has a chance to boom as resource-starved economies snap up Africa’s mineral resources and energy. The editors, however, are at pains to point out in successive chapters that Africa has been placed at a disadvantage through a singular lack of FDI in the past, a skewed world trading regime, and the legacy of small national markets. They moot regionalism as a possible solution, and the different trajectories of SADC and the EAC point to ways in which African nations can overcome institutional and economic difficulties. The editors then turn to a political analysis of the African continent by taking on the subject of ‘Land Acquisition’, which is not only one of the most contentious issues confronting Africa today, but also a metaphor for Africa’s future economic and political path. Their view is to make plain for all that Africa sits on the horns of a developmental dilemma. Africa can either flourish well into the century or fall foul of wrong-headed policies by self-serving African elites.
The Scramble for Africa in the 21st Century edition by Michael Power Harry Stephan Politics Social Sciences eBooks
Messrs. Powers and Stephan have produced an essential read for anyone interested in the economic and political forces that will shape our planet for the next several decades. They succeed where many others fall flat; they attack their quarry (Africa's global importance) from both academic and commercial points of view, without sacrificing either vantage at the expense of the other.I would expect to find this title in the shelves (and digital libraries) of every Investment Firm, Financial Regulatory Organization, International Trade Organization and any Institute of Higher Learning that has a Business or Social Science curriculum. The `Dark Continent', and its critical role in global development, has finally had some coherent light shed on it.
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The Scramble for Africa in the 21st Century edition by Michael Power Harry Stephan Politics Social Sciences eBooks Reviews
This well written book is a must read for anyone interested in better understanding Africa, from a political, economic or investment perspective. Whether you are reading it as a business person, a student or an armchair academic this book is both well researched and written and provides well thought out arguments toward interesting conclusions.
As most people are aware, Africa has long struggled to throw off its moniker as the dark continent. Exploited first by colonial powers and then ravaged by decades of civil conflict and economic mismanagement, it is today home to the vast majority of what Paul Collier famously named "the bottom billion." Recently though, there have been signs of change. In 2011, the Economist declared that Africa's economies are now earning a place alongside Asia's; it pointed out that over the ten years to 2010, no fewer than six of the world's ten fastest-growing economies were in sub-Saharan Africa. If this pattern continues (something that seems likely) then the implications for the shape of the world economy are profound. In this volume, Harry Stephan and Michael Power offer what I think is one of the best recent attempts to understand the emergence of these "African lions," and make some really interesting predictions about where the continent might be headed in the future.
Broadly speaking, the book is informed by three writers William Wilberforce who wrote and worked so tirelessly against slavery in Africa, Karl Polanyi, who in 1944 argued against unfettered markets and commented on the adverse effects of the enclosure movement in England, and Franz Fanon who railed against the injustice of colonial oppression in Algeria. The authors argue that these writers represent the `Old World' view of a continent that was summarily divided and subjugated 125 years ago at the Berlin Conference in Europe. In this view, Africa has been struck out. Strike One represents the economic argument that foreign direct investment always seeks out the greener pastures of future technology and knowledge instead of agriculture and mining. Strike Two follows the terms of trade, traditionally always skewed in favour of the West. Strike Three is the problem of colonialism and its legacy of small markets. Africa now consists of 56 states; 27 have a population of less than 10 million people.
Predictions under this scenario were gloomy, but with the advent of the new millennium, Africa has moved to a `New World.' The issue of small markets is being resolved through regionalism. Recent years have seen the rise of SADC, the EAC, the North/South Corridor, the Maputo Corridor and a host of other initiatives that address trade and investment, infrastructure, and especially water and electricity. Trade is being transformed via the rise of the BRICS. China's trade with Africa, for example, has risen from $10 billion to $100 billion in the past six years. Africa is booming again on resources and agriculture as resource-poor nations vie for the products of Africa's resource-rich nations. Chinese trade is also connected to a `New World' scenario of aid and investment. In contrast to `Old World' lending practices of conditional aid and loans, China is operating on a different model of `trade for aid'.
Finally, on the issue of foreign investment, Africa is now attracting $68 billion per annum. Most people think of Africa in terms of resources, but the authors make the important point that only 19 per cent of its GDP is made up of minerals and energy. Africa is now attracting FDI due to the size of its labour force and its expanding markets, and crucially, because it has 60 per cent of the world's available agricultural area. This is where the smart money is, and corporations and sovereign wealth funds are involved in a frenzied new rush to acquire land. That said, not all foreign direct investment is good (despite the arguments of economists like Martin Wolf). As in the past, capitalism, and now globalisation in its latest manifestation, is creating winners and losers. Thus the book suggests that how Africa's governments deal with this new rush to buy land will largely determine the future. If they get things wrong, Africa will fall back into Wilberforce's nightmare of diasporas, Fanon's violence or Polanyi's prescient reminder of markets run amok.
Highly recommended for anyone interested in better understanding where Africa has come from, and where the continent is headed in the next few decades. Dr Stephan and Mr Power have made a unique and original contribution to an increasingly important debate.
was expecting a "proper" History of the 21st century, something similar to the first book I read - and do still own - of the Scramble for Africa with History of why and when it happened, which started in late-ish 18th century and on to the 19th century.
Being born and bred in SA, under the represive regime that ruled SA, most information that was allowed did not provide the context for Africa. This book hits the spot and is a must read for anyone wanting to undeerstand Africa and its complexities. Well written and easy to read.
Harry Stephan and Michael Power's latest book, Scramble for Africa; From the Old World to the New, is a must read for students of political science, businessmen/women on the continent and general citizenry interested I Africa's destiny.
The book is about how Africa can reap the benefits of the rise of China in the new global economy. It uses theoretical framework of realism, international political economy theories of power and wealth to explain the current global political scenario and why Africa has a second chance at development. Africa has a chance to be freed from the bondage of commodity extraction, marginalization and the peripheral in the new global economy necessitated by the rise of China.
In other words, the authors use analysis tools and theories of international political economy to understand the challenge of Africa's development today. They walk the reader through Africa dilemma with increasing demand for its natural resources to analyzing the precariousness of global capital and trade. They trace the roots of the current economic growth for Africa pointing out that how this is Africa's chance at genuine real transformative development.
Robert Shrire, professor of international relations at University of Cape Town in his forward notes that Harry Stephan and Michael Power bring with them academic acumen and experience in business to argue out their case for Africa. Shrire notes that the book fills the gap between theories of international political economy and the challenges of African economic development.
Harry Stephan in the introductory chapter asks questions the book addresses; where is Africa going? To underscore the question, he quotes Lewis Carroll ``would you tell me which way I ought to go from here? Asked Alice. That depends on where you want to get answered the cat''. Where does African want to get to and from where?
This is the African dilemma. To understand Africa'' standing point, the remaining five chapters of the book offer us a prognosis and a prediction of where Africa ought to be in the 21st Century the new world. Finding sign posts is of this journey is core exercise of this book.
Michael Power two chapters take the reader to the level of the firm in understanding capital, product life cycle and economic hierarchy of states. This analysis further leads us to why and how nation states have attracted capital. It argues why China's rise and engagement with Africa is beyond commodity extraction.
The following Chapter by Raymond Steenkamp tackles the post world war II regime under the Breton wood institutions with the ideology of free trade. He traces the rise of the Breton Wood regime. He walks us through GATT and WTO focusing primarily on how and why Africa was marginalized. He throws at the reader the failure of the western countries to follow the dictates of comparative advantage as preached by David Ricardo. Raymond brings out the relevance of the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and China) countries in south to south trade.
Then Stephan and Bridgman sum up the two chapters to argue case for globalization, regime theory and what China brings to the fore. Rochela and Angus bring the reader close home with their analysis of SADC and the broader regionalism practice in Africa. Where does South Africa foreign policy, SADC and NEPAD fit in all this question of Africa in the 21st Century?
This discussion on South Africa, SADC, and NEPAD brings the reader closer to the realities that surround the shift of Africa from the Old to the New. Will the key variables; African elites, the land question and trade combine to get the best out of the current global reigning political economy? The overemphasis of the book South Africa foreign policy, Thab.o Mbeki and NEPAD as key determinants in Africa's' claim to the 21st Century poses a challenge to readers who view South Africa suspiciously on the continent
In all Harry Stephan et at el uses realism as main theoretical framework of analysis. It is linked to the popular international political economy field and goes on to use Robert Gilpins three through models of the future; mercantilism, sovereignty at bay and dependence models. Power and wealth as analytical tools in international political economy paradigm are used to depict Africa in the new political economy. They are used to understand Africa of the old and how it will move to the new. You will find them; Kenneth Waltz, Robert Gilpin, Susan Strange, Robert Keohen, James March, Borne Hettne. Globalization, regionalism is amply explained as it relates to Africa then, now and in the future. All things being equal! What is the place of SADC, NEPAD in all this? Does regional integration provide Africa hope to a better world? What is the role of South Africa within SADC and Africa?
For a student of international relations, African politics and development domiciled in Zambia, Harry Stephan's work has all the questions that demand investigation.
Have the African Leaders, the African peoples really decided where they want to get to? Stephan argues that Africa is moving from the old world to the new world. He traces Africa's old world through the three of three great scholars; William Wilberforce, Karl Polyani and Franz Fanon. A quick glance at the contribution of these scholars shows Africa quest for integration in the global capitalist system.
The question that begs to be answered? Who are Africa's scholars of the new world?
I believe this series will stand alongside the giants of Fannon, Polanyi and Wilberforce in telling the complete story of Africa. Stephan's work takes us through the realist theory and uses Kenneth Waltz's Man, the state and society to underpin the question of level of analysis discourse.. Stephan engages with the current theoretic debate in international relations and engages the three scholars Wilberforce, Polanyi and Franz Fanon to understand Africa's standing in the global political economy.
African pessimists will find this book a hard read. Conclusions and predictions that come from this analysis are startling and defy the pedestrian conclusions.
A quick glance at the continent still shows a proliferation of NGOs providing service delivery against the background of demonized/vilified state; a continent laden with autocratic old leaders clinging to power; a continent ravaged by poverty, hunger, disease. A very fertile for western charity organization that squanders the well intended aid money from their rich nations and citizens. When it benefits them they hide themselves as private for profit companies working in Aid industry.
Will African elites answer to call of Harry Stephan? Will they read the times and not let the opportunity provided by China slip away? Do they even read such works? African pessimists would ask.
The authors place a finger where it matter most; African elites, land and international trade. These in Africa must be positioned in such a way that the opportunity provided for by china and the multi-polar world must leave Africa a better continent. A continent where international and local capital finds infinite opportunities for profit while at the same transforming economies and peoples' lives.
Such opportunities do not happen by chance. This is amply demonstrated by the rise of China. How did China get to where it is now? Was it through trade liberalization? Greater integration with global political economy? How did China play the tramp card of an open economy while keeping capital closed within? That is trapping capital or in the words of the authors `creating an atmospheric pressure' attractive to international capital..
The book makes an excellent text for African elites; government bureaucrats, businessmen, academicians, students of political science students and politicians.
Fundamental questions must be asked now and answered correctly for African to claim the 21st Century. The theoretical tools that help one understand where Africa is coming from, where it currently stands in the global economy are amply provided for by Harry Stephan and Michael Power. This work puts to perspective the current debate on Africa/China relations . Some argue that China is the new imperialist colonizing Africa for its mineral wealth.
This book is a must read for student on international relations, business men/women and statesmen.
If there was a way, Harry and his team would traverse the continent on speaking tours addressing cabinets, heads of states, businessmen/women and young students. Finances for such undertaking would not come easily as those who wield capital on Africa north of Limpopo including World Bank/IMF are under the spell of lobbyist organizations that prefer to spread family planning, free food and pit latrines on the continent than original ideas. They loath private capital in preference aid charitable organisations that are neither here nor there.
I believe African challenges are more to do with man. I would stick to Kenneth Waltz first level of analysis; circle of man and see what challenges and questions arise from a realist, power and wealth analysis. What case study would bring out the story and conclusions of Harry Stephan?
This is a challenge for young African scholars and readers.
The Scramble for Africa in the 21st Century From the Old World to the New. It can be obtained in an electronic version or in paper at [...] , and electronic only on , or Barnes and Noble.com.
Messrs. Powers and Stephan have produced an essential read for anyone interested in the economic and political forces that will shape our planet for the next several decades. They succeed where many others fall flat; they attack their quarry (Africa's global importance) from both academic and commercial points of view, without sacrificing either vantage at the expense of the other.
I would expect to find this title in the shelves (and digital libraries) of every Investment Firm, Financial Regulatory Organization, International Trade Organization and any Institute of Higher Learning that has a Business or Social Science curriculum. The `Dark Continent', and its critical role in global development, has finally had some coherent light shed on it.
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