AFRICA IN THE WORLD
After the Cold War ended, it seemed that a unipolar world was created when the United States emerged as the only superpower in the aftermath of the dismantling of the former Soviet bloc and its partial integration into NATO and the European Union. Today, we see a world order in the making with emerging states (China, India, Brazil, Russia, the Gulf States, South Africa) and other nodes of power: a globally connected civil society; private foundations (Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation); terror networks; faith-based political mass movements; multinational companies; and globally linked financial networks.
After the short excitement of independence, for decades Africa was relegated to the battleground of the Cold War. Torn into two camps, the West and the Soviet bloc, Africa was never strategically as important as Asia or Latin America for either of the superpowers. Violent conflicts, civil wars, the Rwandan genocide, natural disasters and diseases like HIV/AIDS and widespread economic and social despair dominated Africa’s image in the 1990s. Africa was seen as the “lost continent”.
African leaders faced with the economic and social crisis, violent conflicts, (man-made) natural disasters and diseases, embarked on new political initiatives (African Union, NEPAD). In many countries, popular protest escalated from below demanding an end to authoritarian and corrupt governments and new political initiatives to effectively combat poverty and unemployment.
With China’s increasing economic interest in Africa, the continent regained international interest. States and multinational companies are eyeing Africa’s resources. There is a scramble for its minerals and oil to supply world production, its land to feed a burgeoning world population and for a marketing foothold to attract Africa’s growing middle class to consume Chinese, American, German or French products.
RLS analyses the transformation of Africa’s place in the world as it is shaped by external and internal forces. The RLS-International politics programme focuses on two key themes:
- The nature of conflict on the continent and attempts by African states to attain peace. Of particular importance is conflict prevention and management, as well as the post-conflict reconstruction processes (Democratization, pacification). The scope of investigation will include the capacity of African states, including regional “hegemons“, like South Africa, to bring about meaningful sustainable change; and
- South Africa’s role in Africa and beyond. RLS aims to dissect the effects of South African investment, trade policies and strategic business operations on neighbouring countries and South Africa’s changing role in world politics.
For more information, please contact Emmanuel Nibishaka, Researcher, at: assistant@rosalux.co.za
Human Sciences Research Council
The Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) conducts large-scale, policy-relevant, social-scientific projects for public sector users, non-governmental organisations and international development agencies. It does this in partnership with researchers globally, but specifically in Africa. It is committed to cutting-edge research that supports development nationally, in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and in Africa. The dissemination of research demonstrates the remarkable and measurable impact of its work. As the national social science council of South Africa, the HSRC serves as a knowledge hub to bridge the gap between research, policy and action; thus increasing the impact of research. This is achieved through collaboration with key constituencies, including government, other research organisations, multinational agencies, universities, non-governmental organisations and donor and development organisations. It has a staff complement of 500 comprising professional researchers, technical and administrative support staff based in six offices in four different provinces in South Africa.
