African Agency in International Politics

by William Brown (Editor), Sophie Harman (Editor)

Overview

This book analyses the rapidly increasing role of African states, leaders and other political actors in international politics in the 21st Century.

In contrast to the conventional approach of studying how external actors impacted on Africa’s international relations, this book seeks to open up a new approach, focusing on the impact of African political actors on international politics. It does this by analysing African agency – the degree to which African political actors have room to manoeuvre within the international system and exert influence internationally, and the uses they make of that room for manoeuvre. Bringing together leading scholars from Africa and Europe to explore the role and conception of African Agency, this book addresses a wide range of issues, from relations with western and non-western donors, Africa’s role in the UN and World Trade Organisation, negotiations over climate change, trade agreements with the European Union, regional diplomatic strategies, the character and extent of African state agency, and agency within corporate social responsibility initiatives.

African Agency in International Politics will be of interest to scholars and students of Africa’s international relations, African politics, development, geography, diplomacy, trade, the environment, political science and security studies.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781138830417
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Publication date:	09/12/2014
Series:	Routledge Studies in African Politics and International Relations
Pages:	224
Product dimensions:	6.12(w) x 9.19(h) x (d)

About the Author

William Brown is Senior Lecturer in Government and Politics at The Open University in Milton Keynes, UK.

Sophie Harman is Senior Lecturer in International Public Policy at Queen Mary, University of London, UK.

Table of Contents

1. African agency in international politics William Brown and Sophie Harman Part I: Negotiating Internationally 2. Common positions as African agency in international negotiations: an appraisal Siphamandla Zondi 3. African agency in global trade governanceDonna Lee 4. African agency in world trade undermined? The case of bilateral relations with the European Union Stephen Hurt 5. Back to Business? UK Policy and African Agency Tom Cargill Part II: Agency: New Modes, New Sites 6. Aid dependency as a limitation to national development policy? The case of Rwanda Sven Grimm 7. ‘Image management’ and African agency: Ugandan regional diplomacy and donor relations under Museveni Jonathan Fisher 8. Corporate Social Responsibility as a social development paradigm in Africa’s political economy – its emergence and implications for African Agency Scarlett Cornelissen Part III: States and Agency 9. State Agency and State Formation in Africa David Williams 10. Elusive Agency: Africa's Persistently Peripheral Role in International Relations Stefan Andreasson 11. From weak state to savvy international player? Rwanda’s multi-level strategy for maximising agency Danielle Beswick

Editorial Reviews

'All in all, the volume is a valuable addition to the literature on Africa in the international system for its innovative approach to the question of power through the framework of agency. It is to be recommended for all those interested in the exercise of international power and agency, as well as area specialists.'

- Meera Sabaratnam, University of London

From the Publisher