Pub Date : 2024-05-28DOI: 10.1177/09750878241241792
Luqman Afolabi, Patrick Efe Ejumedia, Adebunmi Olusola Oduyoye-Ejumedia, Richard Kabanda, Nnamdi O Madichie
This study investigates the practical relationship between foreign direct investments (FDI), bilateral investment treaties (BITs), income, energy consumption and CO2 emissions in sub-Saharan African (SSA) countries between 2000 and 2020. To address the challenges of heterogeneity, non-stationarity and cross-sectional dependence, we employed the dynamic common-correlated effects estimation method introduced by Chudik and Pesaran. This methodology provides reliable results for panel datasets of significant to moderate size. The results indicate a direct connection between FDI and CO2 emissions, providing evidence for the pollution haven theory. Notably, BITs also have a favourable and substantial impact on environmental degradation in SSA countries. These findings emphasise the need for effective environmental regulatory frameworks and management techniques. Achieving sustainable growth and economic development in SSA countries requires prioritising the adoption and implementation of carbon reduction strategies. SSA countries can attain balanced growth between economic progress and environmental preservation by reducing the negative effects of FDI inflows and BITs on environmental sustainability. This study expands the current knowledge base by providing insights into the complex relationship between FDI inflows, BITs, income, energy consumption and CO2 emissions in SSA countries. The findings offer valuable guidance to policymakers and stakeholders in formulating and executing effective environmental policies and regulations to promote sustainable development in the area.
{"title":"Unravelling the Link Between Bilateral Investment Treaties and Environmental Sustainability in Sub-Saharan African Countries","authors":"Luqman Afolabi, Patrick Efe Ejumedia, Adebunmi Olusola Oduyoye-Ejumedia, Richard Kabanda, Nnamdi O Madichie","doi":"10.1177/09750878241241792","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/09750878241241792","url":null,"abstract":"This study investigates the practical relationship between foreign direct investments (FDI), bilateral investment treaties (BITs), income, energy consumption and CO<jats:sub>2</jats:sub> emissions in sub-Saharan African (SSA) countries between 2000 and 2020. To address the challenges of heterogeneity, non-stationarity and cross-sectional dependence, we employed the dynamic common-correlated effects estimation method introduced by Chudik and Pesaran. This methodology provides reliable results for panel datasets of significant to moderate size. The results indicate a direct connection between FDI and CO<jats:sub>2</jats:sub> emissions, providing evidence for the pollution haven theory. Notably, BITs also have a favourable and substantial impact on environmental degradation in SSA countries. These findings emphasise the need for effective environmental regulatory frameworks and management techniques. Achieving sustainable growth and economic development in SSA countries requires prioritising the adoption and implementation of carbon reduction strategies. SSA countries can attain balanced growth between economic progress and environmental preservation by reducing the negative effects of FDI inflows and BITs on environmental sustainability. This study expands the current knowledge base by providing insights into the complex relationship between FDI inflows, BITs, income, energy consumption and CO<jats:sub>2</jats:sub> emissions in SSA countries. The findings offer valuable guidance to policymakers and stakeholders in formulating and executing effective environmental policies and regulations to promote sustainable development in the area.","PeriodicalId":42199,"journal":{"name":"Insight on Africa","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.8,"publicationDate":"2024-05-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141169816","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-05-23DOI: 10.1177/09750878231213910
Sasmita Mohanty
K. A. Busia, The Challenge of Africa (New York: Routledge Taylor and Francis Group in Cooperation with BFI Publication, 2023), 151 pp., ₹7,140.00. ISBN 978-1-032-24793-9 (Hardback), ISBN 978-1-032-24851-6 (Paperback), ISBN 978-1-003-28040-8 (e-book).
K.A. Busia, The Challenge of Africa (New York：Routledge Taylor and Francis Group in Cooperation with BFI Publication, 2023), 151 pp.ISBN 978-1-032-24793-9（精装本），ISBN 978-1-032-24851-6（平装本），ISBN 978-1-003-28040-8（电子书）。
{"title":"Book review: K. A. Busia, The Challenge of Africa","authors":"Sasmita Mohanty","doi":"10.1177/09750878231213910","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/09750878231213910","url":null,"abstract":"K. A. Busia, The Challenge of Africa (New York: Routledge Taylor and Francis Group in Cooperation with BFI Publication, 2023), 151 pp., ₹7,140.00. ISBN 978-1-032-24793-9 (Hardback), ISBN 978-1-032-24851-6 (Paperback), ISBN 978-1-003-28040-8 (e-book).","PeriodicalId":42199,"journal":{"name":"Insight on Africa","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.8,"publicationDate":"2024-05-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141107873","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-04-29DOI: 10.1177/09750878241239901
Kavita Arora
Nathanael Ojong (Ed.), Off-Grid Solar Electrification in Africa: A Critical Perspective, Palgrave Macmillan, 2022, pp. 372, ₹8,808 (Hardback).
Nathanael Ojong (Ed.), Off-Grid Solar Electrification in Africa：关键视角》，Palgrave Macmillan，2022 年，第 372 页，₹8,808（精装本）。
{"title":"Book review: Nathanael Ojong (Ed.), Off-Grid Solar Electrification in Africa: A Critical Perspective","authors":"Kavita Arora","doi":"10.1177/09750878241239901","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/09750878241239901","url":null,"abstract":"Nathanael Ojong (Ed.), Off-Grid Solar Electrification in Africa: A Critical Perspective, Palgrave Macmillan, 2022, pp. 372, ₹8,808 (Hardback).","PeriodicalId":42199,"journal":{"name":"Insight on Africa","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.8,"publicationDate":"2024-04-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140811072","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-04-26DOI: 10.1177/09750878241239902
Yalemzewd Dessie
For the past two decades, the border conflict between Ethiopia and Eritrea has posed political, economic and social security threats in the Horn of Africa. The seemingly unexpected resurgence of jovial contact between Eritrea and Ethiopia grabbed national, regional and international attention. It was Abiy who jumpstarted the peace process in June 2018. Unfortunately, their relationship gradually deteriorated from a cheerful amorousness to a vicious enmity. Thus, Ethiopia and Eritrea have both shown the ability and readiness to utilise proxy armies against one another. However, the literature on Ethiopia–Eritrea relations now avoids the topic of how peace and security might be restored. Therefore, the primary goal of this article has been to discuss and analyse the development of the Ethio-Eritrean relationship since 2018, from jubilant liaison to paroxysm hostility. To record and analyse this exciting issue, the article would be limited to primary sources such as letters, reports, journals, interviews, live streaming media and published secondary texts that this writer has access to.
{"title":"Ethio-Eritrean Relation: From Jubilant Liaison to Paroxysm Hostility Since 2018","authors":"Yalemzewd Dessie","doi":"10.1177/09750878241239902","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/09750878241239902","url":null,"abstract":"For the past two decades, the border conflict between Ethiopia and Eritrea has posed political, economic and social security threats in the Horn of Africa. The seemingly unexpected resurgence of jovial contact between Eritrea and Ethiopia grabbed national, regional and international attention. It was Abiy who jumpstarted the peace process in June 2018. Unfortunately, their relationship gradually deteriorated from a cheerful amorousness to a vicious enmity. Thus, Ethiopia and Eritrea have both shown the ability and readiness to utilise proxy armies against one another. However, the literature on Ethiopia–Eritrea relations now avoids the topic of how peace and security might be restored. Therefore, the primary goal of this article has been to discuss and analyse the development of the Ethio-Eritrean relationship since 2018, from jubilant liaison to paroxysm hostility. To record and analyse this exciting issue, the article would be limited to primary sources such as letters, reports, journals, interviews, live streaming media and published secondary texts that this writer has access to.","PeriodicalId":42199,"journal":{"name":"Insight on Africa","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.8,"publicationDate":"2024-04-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140804365","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-03-28DOI: 10.1177/09750878241234254
F. Alemu
High unemployment, volatile exchange rates and hyperinflation contest the steady economy of Ethiopia. The aim of this study is to examine the relationship between inflation, unemployment, exchange rate and economic growth in the steady transition economy of Ethiopia. For this purpose, descriptive and econometric analyses with VAR and Granger causality estimations have been employed by using the annual time series data from 1980 to 2022. The descriptive results show that after 2010, in Ethiopia, stagnant economic growth, extreme volatile exchange rates and hyperinflation were observed. The VAR estimate is consistent with the results of the Granger causality test. It showed that in the long run, economic growth and currency depreciation are directly associated, but unemployment has a negative impact on inflation and economic growth. Economic growth and unemployment have an enlightened impact on the exchange rate devaluation, but they are not ultimately impacted by the rate of inflation. The study implied that between 1980 and 2022, in Ethiopia, there were high rates of unemployment, slow economic growth coupled with hyperinflation and a high exchange rate. The study suggested that boosting industry and agricultural productivity through the adoption of innovation, replacing foreign commodities with domestic commodities and expanding the supply of domestic commodities in international markets can resolve the inspected Ethiopian macroeconomic problems.
{"title":"An Empirical Analysis of the Nexus Between Inflation, Exchange Rate, Unemployment and Economic Growth in Ethiopia: A Granger Casualty Approach","authors":"F. Alemu","doi":"10.1177/09750878241234254","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/09750878241234254","url":null,"abstract":"High unemployment, volatile exchange rates and hyperinflation contest the steady economy of Ethiopia. The aim of this study is to examine the relationship between inflation, unemployment, exchange rate and economic growth in the steady transition economy of Ethiopia. For this purpose, descriptive and econometric analyses with VAR and Granger causality estimations have been employed by using the annual time series data from 1980 to 2022. The descriptive results show that after 2010, in Ethiopia, stagnant economic growth, extreme volatile exchange rates and hyperinflation were observed. The VAR estimate is consistent with the results of the Granger causality test. It showed that in the long run, economic growth and currency depreciation are directly associated, but unemployment has a negative impact on inflation and economic growth. Economic growth and unemployment have an enlightened impact on the exchange rate devaluation, but they are not ultimately impacted by the rate of inflation. The study implied that between 1980 and 2022, in Ethiopia, there were high rates of unemployment, slow economic growth coupled with hyperinflation and a high exchange rate. The study suggested that boosting industry and agricultural productivity through the adoption of innovation, replacing foreign commodities with domestic commodities and expanding the supply of domestic commodities in international markets can resolve the inspected Ethiopian macroeconomic problems.","PeriodicalId":42199,"journal":{"name":"Insight on Africa","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.8,"publicationDate":"2024-03-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140371741","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Equal participation in politics are a goal of democracy, independent of gender, race, or ethnicity. This essay contends that if these values are not given top priority and prominence in society, democracy will have failed. By examining the opinions of participants, this study assesses the implementation of the 2006 National Gender Policy in Nigeria. To learn how participants, assess the policy’s execution since it was created, the research employs a qualitative methodology.The results show that sexism, illiteracy, and a lack of strong government support are the main barriers to full implementation of the national gender policy. The policy implementation framework is hindered, as evidenced by the participants’ experiences, raising questions about its efficacy in promoting gender equality. In order to accomplish the goals of the policy, the government and other players will need to provide better support, raise awareness of the issue, and make firmer promises.The implications of these findings are examined within the social learning theory, which suggests that behavior is learned from the environment, and that people adapt by observing the consequences of their actions and the actions of others. The research reveals that social learning is critical in the implementation of gender policies, but the limited application of the policy undermines its ability to promote change. Therefore, this paper argues that there is an urgent need for comprehensive action and policy reform, aimed at addressing the limitations identified and ensuring gender equity in Nigeria.
{"title":"Same Game, Different Participation in Nigeria: A qualitative study of (2006) National Gender Policy","authors":"Owoeye Gbenga, Aleyomi Michael, Ngozi Bridget Ogor-Igbosuah, Babatunde Samson","doi":"10.1177/09750878231218650","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/09750878231218650","url":null,"abstract":"Equal participation in politics are a goal of democracy, independent of gender, race, or ethnicity. This essay contends that if these values are not given top priority and prominence in society, democracy will have failed. By examining the opinions of participants, this study assesses the implementation of the 2006 National Gender Policy in Nigeria. To learn how participants, assess the policy’s execution since it was created, the research employs a qualitative methodology.The results show that sexism, illiteracy, and a lack of strong government support are the main barriers to full implementation of the national gender policy. The policy implementation framework is hindered, as evidenced by the participants’ experiences, raising questions about its efficacy in promoting gender equality. In order to accomplish the goals of the policy, the government and other players will need to provide better support, raise awareness of the issue, and make firmer promises.The implications of these findings are examined within the social learning theory, which suggests that behavior is learned from the environment, and that people adapt by observing the consequences of their actions and the actions of others. The research reveals that social learning is critical in the implementation of gender policies, but the limited application of the policy undermines its ability to promote change. Therefore, this paper argues that there is an urgent need for comprehensive action and policy reform, aimed at addressing the limitations identified and ensuring gender equity in Nigeria.","PeriodicalId":42199,"journal":{"name":"Insight on Africa","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.8,"publicationDate":"2024-03-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140074264","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-02-05DOI: 10.1177/09750878231224704
Akachukwu Darlington Umeh, S. A. Olofinbiyi, N. Gopal
This study delved into a conceptual analysis of African migrants’ experiences and perceptions of service delivery at a purposely selected Department of Home Affairs and Immigration Services in South Africa. A mixed-methods design comprising a cross-sectional survey and focus group discussions was conducted with black African migrants awaiting service delivery at the Durban Department of Home Affairs. The findings were discussed within the context of the relative deprivation theory. The study unfolds South Africans’ negative perceptions of African immigrants as vectors of insecurity, criminality and economic hardship for the citizenry, as well as a systemic anathema to South Africa’s state sovereignty. It holistically ascribes the phenomenon to an attendant consequence of unlawful racial discrimination emanating from institutionalised xenophobia, a recently emerged concept that this current study has referred to as Afrophobia.
{"title":"Institutionalised Xenophobia: African Migrants’ Experiences and Perceptions of Service Delivery at a Selected South African Department of Home Affairs","authors":"Akachukwu Darlington Umeh, S. A. Olofinbiyi, N. Gopal","doi":"10.1177/09750878231224704","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/09750878231224704","url":null,"abstract":"This study delved into a conceptual analysis of African migrants’ experiences and perceptions of service delivery at a purposely selected Department of Home Affairs and Immigration Services in South Africa. A mixed-methods design comprising a cross-sectional survey and focus group discussions was conducted with black African migrants awaiting service delivery at the Durban Department of Home Affairs. The findings were discussed within the context of the relative deprivation theory. The study unfolds South Africans’ negative perceptions of African immigrants as vectors of insecurity, criminality and economic hardship for the citizenry, as well as a systemic anathema to South Africa’s state sovereignty. It holistically ascribes the phenomenon to an attendant consequence of unlawful racial discrimination emanating from institutionalised xenophobia, a recently emerged concept that this current study has referred to as Afrophobia.","PeriodicalId":42199,"journal":{"name":"Insight on Africa","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.8,"publicationDate":"2024-02-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139862785","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-02-05DOI: 10.1177/09750878231224704
Akachukwu Darlington Umeh, S. A. Olofinbiyi, N. Gopal
This study delved into a conceptual analysis of African migrants’ experiences and perceptions of service delivery at a purposely selected Department of Home Affairs and Immigration Services in South Africa. A mixed-methods design comprising a cross-sectional survey and focus group discussions was conducted with black African migrants awaiting service delivery at the Durban Department of Home Affairs. The findings were discussed within the context of the relative deprivation theory. The study unfolds South Africans’ negative perceptions of African immigrants as vectors of insecurity, criminality and economic hardship for the citizenry, as well as a systemic anathema to South Africa’s state sovereignty. It holistically ascribes the phenomenon to an attendant consequence of unlawful racial discrimination emanating from institutionalised xenophobia, a recently emerged concept that this current study has referred to as Afrophobia.
{"title":"Institutionalised Xenophobia: African Migrants’ Experiences and Perceptions of Service Delivery at a Selected South African Department of Home Affairs","authors":"Akachukwu Darlington Umeh, S. A. Olofinbiyi, N. Gopal","doi":"10.1177/09750878231224704","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/09750878231224704","url":null,"abstract":"This study delved into a conceptual analysis of African migrants’ experiences and perceptions of service delivery at a purposely selected Department of Home Affairs and Immigration Services in South Africa. A mixed-methods design comprising a cross-sectional survey and focus group discussions was conducted with black African migrants awaiting service delivery at the Durban Department of Home Affairs. The findings were discussed within the context of the relative deprivation theory. The study unfolds South Africans’ negative perceptions of African immigrants as vectors of insecurity, criminality and economic hardship for the citizenry, as well as a systemic anathema to South Africa’s state sovereignty. It holistically ascribes the phenomenon to an attendant consequence of unlawful racial discrimination emanating from institutionalised xenophobia, a recently emerged concept that this current study has referred to as Afrophobia.","PeriodicalId":42199,"journal":{"name":"Insight on Africa","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.8,"publicationDate":"2024-02-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139803027","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-01-31DOI: 10.1177/09750878231221930
Eun Kyung Kim, Kwang-Su Kim
Research on violent extremism in Africa argues that jihadi insurgents exploit inter-ethnic cleavages and local grievances in order to recruit and gain support from the region because such political mobilisation leads to an escalation of clashes and violence among communal groups. On the other hand, local militias, especially those aided by governments, incite acts of anti-government terrorists. Using the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data (ACLED) data set, we explore at which duration-area level the jihadist and militia attacks affect each other’s atrocities and how the effects vary in three Francophone Sahelian countries—Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger. We find that violent acts by militias (or jihadists) tend to be reactive to terrorist attacks (or militia movements) rather than happening concurrently or against one another. More specifically, violent incidents by jihadi insurgents and local militias have an aggravating effect on each other’s violent acts in sub-regional administrative units over a week at the highest rate in Mali and Burkina Faso. Further, results from a cross-country analysis suggest that homegrown factors, including terrorist group rivalry, government responses to terrorism and self-defence militias’ intentions and determination, might affect how the jihadists’ exploitation of the cleavages and the growing challenges posed by ethnic militias to the extremists exacerbate the situation.
{"title":"The Effect of Violent Extremism on Local Conflicts and Vice Versa: Differences and Similarities among Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger","authors":"Eun Kyung Kim, Kwang-Su Kim","doi":"10.1177/09750878231221930","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/09750878231221930","url":null,"abstract":"Research on violent extremism in Africa argues that jihadi insurgents exploit inter-ethnic cleavages and local grievances in order to recruit and gain support from the region because such political mobilisation leads to an escalation of clashes and violence among communal groups. On the other hand, local militias, especially those aided by governments, incite acts of anti-government terrorists. Using the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data (ACLED) data set, we explore at which duration-area level the jihadist and militia attacks affect each other’s atrocities and how the effects vary in three Francophone Sahelian countries—Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger. We find that violent acts by militias (or jihadists) tend to be reactive to terrorist attacks (or militia movements) rather than happening concurrently or against one another. More specifically, violent incidents by jihadi insurgents and local militias have an aggravating effect on each other’s violent acts in sub-regional administrative units over a week at the highest rate in Mali and Burkina Faso. Further, results from a cross-country analysis suggest that homegrown factors, including terrorist group rivalry, government responses to terrorism and self-defence militias’ intentions and determination, might affect how the jihadists’ exploitation of the cleavages and the growing challenges posed by ethnic militias to the extremists exacerbate the situation.","PeriodicalId":42199,"journal":{"name":"Insight on Africa","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.8,"publicationDate":"2024-01-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139955897","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-01-11DOI: 10.1177/09750878231217957
Suneel Kumar
This article explains that digital geopolitics is a key component of Sino-US rivalry, as digital technologies have taken the centre stage in the new global conflict between the United States and China. China’s digital expansionism through its Digital Silk Road (DSR) projects is promoting its geopolitical agenda in African countries. Chinese financial institutions are funding African countries’ digital infrastructure projects, which are being implemented by Chinese companies. Chinese companies, which are dominating the African digital technology space, are also setting new technology standards and norms that challenge the existing US-led global digital order. DSR projects have improved the digital connectivity of African countries, boosted the emergence of local companies, created job opportunities for Africans and enhanced governments’ governance capabilities. However, African countries’ dependence on the Chinese digital technology curtails local companies’ growth capabilities while promoting China’s ‘digital authoritarianism’ and ‘data colonialism’, as China’s companies possess market manipulation tools and capabilities. In addition, unmanageable loans given by Chinese financial institutions to implement DSR projects are creating sovereignty-eroding debt traps for African countries. As China’s digital expansionism poses a severe challenge to US geopolitical interests in the African continent, the United States, as a part of its counter-moves, has started a global campaign against Chinese digital expansionism, imposed a ban on Chinese tech companies, adopted the Digital Connectivity and Cyber-security Partnership (DCCP) and launched the Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment (PGII) scheme. Pursuing an aggressive strategy, the United States should launch a ‘Digital Marshal Plan’ to counter the Chinese digital expansionism at the global level in general and Africa in particular. Hence, in this context, using the descriptive-qualitative approach, this study is based on the content analysis method.
{"title":"China’s Digital Expansionism in Africa and the US Counter-Strategies","authors":"Suneel Kumar","doi":"10.1177/09750878231217957","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/09750878231217957","url":null,"abstract":"This article explains that digital geopolitics is a key component of Sino-US rivalry, as digital technologies have taken the centre stage in the new global conflict between the United States and China. China’s digital expansionism through its Digital Silk Road (DSR) projects is promoting its geopolitical agenda in African countries. Chinese financial institutions are funding African countries’ digital infrastructure projects, which are being implemented by Chinese companies. Chinese companies, which are dominating the African digital technology space, are also setting new technology standards and norms that challenge the existing US-led global digital order. DSR projects have improved the digital connectivity of African countries, boosted the emergence of local companies, created job opportunities for Africans and enhanced governments’ governance capabilities. However, African countries’ dependence on the Chinese digital technology curtails local companies’ growth capabilities while promoting China’s ‘digital authoritarianism’ and ‘data colonialism’, as China’s companies possess market manipulation tools and capabilities. In addition, unmanageable loans given by Chinese financial institutions to implement DSR projects are creating sovereignty-eroding debt traps for African countries. As China’s digital expansionism poses a severe challenge to US geopolitical interests in the African continent, the United States, as a part of its counter-moves, has started a global campaign against Chinese digital expansionism, imposed a ban on Chinese tech companies, adopted the Digital Connectivity and Cyber-security Partnership (DCCP) and launched the Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment (PGII) scheme. Pursuing an aggressive strategy, the United States should launch a ‘Digital Marshal Plan’ to counter the Chinese digital expansionism at the global level in general and Africa in particular. Hence, in this context, using the descriptive-qualitative approach, this study is based on the content analysis method.","PeriodicalId":42199,"journal":{"name":"Insight on Africa","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.8,"publicationDate":"2024-01-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139533619","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
京公网安备 11010802042870号
京ICP备2023020795号-1
扫码关注我们
求助内容：
应助结果提醒方式：