The African Union and African Agency in International Politics

This book explores the African Union's role in international politics, examining how it exercises agency in its strategic partnerships with the European Union, NATO, the United Nations, and US AFRICOM. It highlights the use of agency slack as a survival strategy to escape from the AU's subaltern position, with the European Union being emblematic of African agency.

Format: Hardback
Length: 223 pages
Publication date: 11 December 2021
Publisher: Springer Nature Switzerland AG

This comprehensive book delves into the intricate relationship between the African Union (AU) and African agency in international politics. It explores the diverse ways in which the AU exercises two forms of agency: shirking and slippage, in its strategic and collaborative partnerships with various global actors. The author's focus lies in examining four significant AU partnerships: with the European Union, NATO, the United Nations, and US AFRICOM. Through a detailed analysis of these partnerships, the book seeks to understand the dynamics and politics that shape African agency within each collaboration.

The book begins by examining the multilevel engagement, institutionalization, resource contribution, and disbursement in each partnership. It delves into African ownership and leadership in these critical aspects, highlighting the ways in which Africans contribute to and shape the outcomes of these partnerships.

One of the key findings of the book is the role of agency slack as a survival strategy for the AU to escape from its subaltern position in international politics. It identifies the partnership with the European Union as emblematic of African agency, while the other partnerships exhibit different forms of agency slack. The book argues that partnerships with NATO and the United Nations exhibit shirking, where Africans are largely excluded from decision-making processes, while the partnership with the US AFRICOM exhibits slippage, where Africans are incorporated into the partnership but their voices and interests are marginalized.

The book also sheds light on the challenges and opportunities that arise from these partnerships. It highlights the need for greater African agency and participation in global decision-making processes, as well as the importance of building stronger and more inclusive partnerships that respect and promote African interests.

Overall, this book provides a valuable contribution to the study of African agency in international politics. It offers a comprehensive analysis of the AU's partnerships with global actors and highlights the strategies and challenges that African countries face in their engagement with the international system. The book will be of interest to scholars, policymakers, and practitioners working in the fields of international relations, African studies, and development.

Weight: 474g
Dimension: 210 x 148 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9783030878047
Edition number: 1st ed. 2022