The New Scramble for Africa

Oncemarginalizedintheworldeconomy,thepastdecadehasseenAfricaemergeasamajorglobalsupplierofcrucialrawmaterialslikeoil,uraniumandcoltan.Withitsshareofworldtradeandinvestmentnowrisingandtheavailabilityofnaturalresourcesfalling,thecontinentfindsitselfatthecentreofabattletogainaccesstoandcontrolofitsvaluablenaturalassets.China′sroleinAfricahasloomedparticularlylargeinrecentyears,butthereisnowanewscrambletakingplaceinvolvingawiderrangeofestablishedandemergingeconomicpowersfromtheEUandUStoJapan,BrazilandRussia.ThisbookexploresthenatureofresourceandmarketcompetitioninAfricaandthestrategiesadoptedbythedifferentactorsinvolved–betheyworldpowersorsmallcompanies.Focusingonkeycommodities,thebookexaminesthedynamicsofthenewscrambleandtheimpactofcurrentinvestmentandcompetitiononpeople,theenvironment,andpoliticalandeconomicdevelopmentonthecontinent.Newtheories,particularlytheideaofChinese"flexigemony"aredevelopedtoexplainhowresourcesandmarketsareaccessed.Whileresourceaccessisoftentheprimarymotiveforincreasedengagement,thecontinentalsooffersagrowingmarketforlow–pricedgoodsfromAsiaandAsian–ownedcompanies.IndividualchaptersexploreoldandneweconomicpowerinterestsinAfrica;oil,minerals,timber,biofuels,foodandfisheries;andthenatureandimpactsofAsianinvestmentinmanufacturingandothersectors.TheNewScrambleforAfricawillbeessentialreadingforstudentsofAfricanstudies,internationalrelations,andresourcepoliticsaswellasanyoneinterestedincurrentaffairs.