Africa's Asia Engagement in 21st Century

This book critically examines Africa’s engagements with Asian countries in the 21st century within the context of an emerging multi-polar world. It explores how African nations are diversifying their economic, diplomatic, cultural, and strategic partnerships by engaging with emerging Asian economies and ECDC countries (Economically Developing Countries). The volume analyzes the distinct approaches adopted by key Asian actors, China, India, Malaysia, Indonesia, and West Asian countries under the Global South framework, and Japan and South Korea following the OECD model (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development). It highlights how these evolving partnerships have diluted Africa’s traditional dependencies on former global powers. It offers a detailed analysis of initiatives such as India’s calibrated economic diplomacy through the India-Africa Forum Summit (IAFS) under the African Union’s Banjul Formula, and China’s multi-billion-dollar engagements through the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) and the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). Through a combination of bilateral, multilateral, and sectoral case studies, this volume presents a comprehensive and comparative perspective on Africa’s contemporary engagements with key Asian countries.

  Prof. Ajay Kumar Dubey is currently Professor at Centre for African Studies, School of International Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi. He has held various academic positions in the past including as Rector (Pro-Vice Chancellor), JNU; Director, Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Advanced Study (JNIAS), JNU; Founding Chairperson, Special Centre for National Security Studies (SCNSS), JNU; Director, Energy Studies Programme, SIS, JNU; and Chairperson, Centre for African Studies, JNU.   Dr. Sushmita Rajwar is currently working as Associate Professor, Centre for African Studies, School of International Studies. She has formerly worked as Associate Professor, Department of Politics & Governance, Central University of Kashmir and as Assistant Professor at Department of Political Science, Maharaja Agrasen College, University of Delhi.