Friday, 15 August 2014
The new scramble for Africa
Description
'Decades after the European powers carved up the African continent for their own imperial needs, Africa is undergoing a new wave of resource and strategic exploitation – some are calling it the new scramble for Africa.
The United States is increasing its footprint across Africa with AFRICOM, fighting terrorism and ensuring stability are the trumpeted motivations. Resource security is a more hushed objective.
But it is not just about the US.
During the last decade, China's trade with Africa not only caught up with America's, it has more than doubled it.
The new battle for Africa does not deploy strong-arm tactics, it is now a soft power game: economic and humanitarian aid, interest-free loans, preferential trade agreements and investments in infrastructure are currency across a continent that is, for the world's established and emerging powers, seemingly up for grabs.
India, Brazil and Russia are all invested in Africa's present and future, and old imperial powers like France are fixing to retain their loosening grip on the riches of former colonies.
So what does all this mean for Africa and Africans?
Empire travels to Kenya to examine the continent at the centre of the world as it is courted, cajoled and carved up by global powers to its East and West'.
Source - Empire on Aljazeera
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what else is new? i just wonder how africa is dealing or going to deal with it. actually india and china and africa have a long trade history. but because of materalism, i think china may have different motives. personally, shame on all of those countries who feel they need to continue to pilfer the continent. great post. cheers!!
ReplyDeleteGlad you enjoyed, really interesting debates. i particularly found the interview with ex president of France (whose name i cant remember.). interesting.. How Africa is dealing or will deal with it is a great question you ask. How can a continent with the history it has not have vision. must have a vision right.. or a memory.. must have a memory right.
ReplyDeleteI'll watch it again as its worth a few views.
Hearing them speak of an African Oligarchy although not new in practice, still feels out of place, (and if like a chess game as mentioned).. like a wrong move.
oh yes, i like the question, right up front . . "Hopeful . . for who???"
ReplyDeleteI dream of a world where humans - are celebrated . . instead of dollars . . .
sigh.
I agree, that would really be something wouldn't it Maggid...
DeleteIts funny , because I think it's great to celebrate human achievements, their creativity, talent.. an so on. Think it's great that they be rewarded on that basis. I admire and enjoy it. Some say well that's capitalism. Reward someone for something they have done blah blah. But capitalism isn't about that. and neo-colonialism certainly isn't. At least it doesn't work that way in reality. We celebrate greed, selfishness, and all the human traits that bode less well should be all display them at once. Then wonder, why trust is an issue, and why the world looks the way it does. This is not an episode of Dallas where we can enjoy the 'evils' of JR and love him for it. In life, we need a balance, and sometimes you have to stand up to bullies. In the film it spoke about China using their own workers.. what kind of contract is that?. Whenever I've worked in regeneration one of the most important aspects of the contract was the agreement to hire a decent percentage of local labour. You have to negotiate that hard. It crazy not to!. How you gonna sustain it should they pull out. Up-skill your population. Least you end up totally dependent..