Africa in Global Politics in the Twenty-First Century

In the twenty-first century, Africa has become an important source of US energy imports and the world's natural resources. It has also become the epicentre of the world's deadly health epidemic, HIV/AIDS, and one of the battlegrounds in the fight against terrorism. Africa is now a major player in global affairs.

"A detailed account of Africa in global politics with a special emphasis on its numerous problems and suggestions for resolution. The analysis is rich in its treatment of subregional and continental organizations such as the Southern African Development Community, for example. There is an equally detailed analysis of the role that Nigeria played in liberating South Africa from the racist apartheid in South Africa... the author offers a number of very useful suggestions for African progress and development... Recommended." - E. Conteh-Morgan, CHOICE

'Anchored in an historical context and a Pan-African perspective, Abegunrin analyzes the dynamic forces and issues that shape Africa's international relations in the 21st century. The cooperation and sometimes rivalry between Nigeria and South Africa in the pursuit of their national interests, that each claims to be informed by the collective interests of Africa, is astutely highlighted. The challenges of poverty, underdevelopment, democratization, politicized ethnicity, civil conflict, foreign exploitation and intervention, weak political leadership, corruption, militarization and the quest for peace, justice, security and the integration and consolidation of nations are probed from a Pan-African perspective. Abegunrin persuasively argues that 'African problems must be confronted and solved by African themselves. African leaders and governments should stop the attitude of self 'en-slavery' to the West.' This work illuminates the continuous relevance of the ideas of visionary Pan-Africanists like Kwame Nkrumah and Julius Nyerere for solving the problems of Africa in the 21st century.' - Mae C. King, Professor of Political Science, Howard University, USA, and author of Basic Currents of Nigerian Foreign Policy

OLAYIWOLA ABEGUNRIN is Professor of International Relations and African Studies in the Department of Political Science, Howard University at Washington DC, USA.