Who Owns Africa?: Neocolonialism, Investment, and the New Scramble

The independence of African countries from their European colonizers in the late 1950s and 1960s marked a shift in the continent's political leadership, but their economies remained tied to those of their former colonies, raising questions of resource control and sovereignty. Who Owns Africa? examines the role of foreign actors in Africa and their competing interests in exploiting the resources of Africa and its people, perpetuating a state of neocolonialism that has left many African people poor and in the margins.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 288 pages
Publication date: 03 November 2022
Publisher: Leuven University Press

The late 1950s and 1960s marked a significant turning point in the political leadership of Africa as the continent achieved independence from its European colonizers. However, the economies of these nations remained closely linked to their former colonies, raising concerns about resource control and sovereignty. Who Owns Africa? delves into the role of foreign actors in Africa and their diverse interests in exploiting the resources and people of the continent. An interdisciplinary team of scholars, all experts in African studies, examines the concept of colonialism from a historical and socio-political perspective. They expose how the language of investment, development aid, mutual interest, or philanthropy is employed to mask the severe forms of exploitation that continue to plague Africa, perpetuating a state of neocolonialism that has left many African people impoverished and marginalized.

Contributors to this thought-provoking book include John K. Marah (State University of New York Brockport), Nene-Lomotey Kuditchar (University of Ghana), Bekeh Utietiang Ukelina (State University of New York Cortland), Tokie Laotan-Brown (Merging Ecologies, Athenry), Asher Lubotzky (Indiana University Bloomington), Seth N. Asumah (State University of New York Cortland), Kudakwashe Chirambwi (National University of Science and Technology, Zimbabwe), Phillip Murray (United States Military Academy West Point), Paul Chiudza Banda (Tarleton State University), and Gift Wasambo Kayira (University of Malawi).

The book offers a comprehensive analysis of the complex dynamics that shape Africa's political and economic landscape, shedding light on the challenges and opportunities facing the continent. It challenges readers to think critically about the role of foreign actors in Africa and their impact on the lives of its people. By examining the historical and contemporary legacies of colonialism, Who Owns Africa? provides valuable insights into the ongoing struggle for economic and political independence in the region.

Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9789462703438