Research, ideas, and leadership for a more secure, peaceful world
The new frontier of resource-based security issues is the African continent.
The new frontier of resource-based security issues is the African continent. The new strategic partnership for controlling these resources brings together Africa and China. China is at a new dawn of global influence and requires raw resources to fuel its ambitious growth. With Africa’s wealth of natural resources, its politicians yearning for alternative political relationships to postcolonial ties with Euroamerica, and with continuing need for economic and social development, the continent is poised to provide resources for China’s acceleration while harnessing some of this momentum for its own development.
In 2006, China and Africa engaged in $50 billion worth of two-way trade, the majority of it raw resources extracted from Africa to propel Chinese industry. Despite the saccharine mottos such as "peace, friendship, cooperation, development" that characterize the recently strengthened partnerships between Chinese and African businesses and governments, these ventures may perpetuate and exacerbate existing regional conflicts within Africa, while also instigating new, local conflicts.
International audiences are beginning to recognize the geopolitical significance of the recently burgeoning relationship between Africa and China, but there has been scant scholarly research concerning the realities and implications of this alignment, particularly from the African perspective. This paper offers a preliminary examination of whether the enhanced relations between Africa and China do, in fact, achieve "equality and mutual benefit." Or, do the pre-existing political, economic, and strategic inequalities between China and African states result in relations that are characterized by neocolonialism, dependence, and African insecurity?
Please join us! Coffee and tea provided.
Everyone is welcome, but admittance will be on a first come – first served basis.
