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Beyond Myths, Lies and Stereotypes: The Political Economy of a 'New Scramble for Africa'

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  • Alison J. Ayers

Abstract

Commentators across the political spectrum have increasingly drawn attention to a 'new scramble for Africa'. This 'new scramble' marks the latest chapter of imperialist engagement, with not only Western states and corporations but also those of 'emerging economies' seeking to consolidate their access to African resources and markets. The 'new scramble for Africa' involves therefore significant transformations related to shifts in global politico-economic power. However, as this article elaborates, much of the burgeoning literature on the 'new scramble for Africa' is premised upon problematic substantive, theoretical and ontological claims and debates. In particular, the article seeks to challenge two commonplace and related narratives. Firstly, the highly questionable representations of the scale and perceived threat of emerging powers' (particularly China's) involvement in Africa, in contrast to the silences, hypocrisy and paternalistic representation of the historical role of the West. Second, and relatedly, debate and analysis are framed predominantly within an ahistoric statist framework of analysis, particularly that of inter-state rivalry between China and other 'emerging' states vs. Western powers. Absent or neglected in such accounts are profound changes in the global political economy within which the 'new scramble for Africa' is to be more adequately located.

Suggested Citation

  • Alison J. Ayers, 2013. "Beyond Myths, Lies and Stereotypes: The Political Economy of a 'New Scramble for Africa'," New Political Economy, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 18(2), pages 227-257, April.
  • Handle: RePEc:taf:cnpexx:v:18:y:2013:i:2:p:227-257
    DOI: 10.1080/13563467.2012.678821
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Harry G. Broadman, 2007. "Africa's Silk Road : China and India's New Economic Frontier," World Bank Publications - Books, The World Bank Group, number 7186.
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    Cited by:

    1. Raphael Boulat, 2024. "Working Paper: Conflicts and the New Scramble for African Resources -- A Shift-Share Approach," Papers 2408.08923, arXiv.org.
    2. William G. Martin & Ravi Arvind Palat, 2014. "Asian Land Acquisitions in Africa: Beyond the ‘New Bandung’ or a ‘New Colonialism’?," Agrarian South: Journal of Political Economy, Centre for Agrarian Research and Education for South, vol. 3(1), pages 125-150, April.
    3. Adams, Dawda & Adams, Kweku & Attah-Boakye, Rexford & Ullah, Subhan & Rodgers, Waymond & Kimani, Danson, 2022. "Social and environmental practices and corporate financial performance of multinational corporations in emerging markets: Evidence from 20 oil-rich African countries," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 78(C).
    4. Giles Mohan & May Tan-Mullins, 2019. "The geopolitics of South–South infrastructure development: Chinese-financed energy projects in the global South," Urban Studies, Urban Studies Journal Limited, vol. 56(7), pages 1368-1385, May.
    5. Purwins, Sebastian, 2022. "Dynamics and consequences: The economic/ecological double crisis in China and the bauxite-aluminium industry in Ghana," Forschungsberichte der ARL: Aufsätze, in: Spatial transformation: Processes, strategies, research design, volume 19, pages 129-140, ARL – Akademie für Raumentwicklung in der Leibniz-Gemeinschaft.
    6. Giles Mohan, 2021. "Below the Belt? Territory and Development in China's International Rise," Development and Change, International Institute of Social Studies, vol. 52(1), pages 54-75, January.
    7. Jong-Woon Lee & Kevin Gray, 2016. "Neo-Colonialism in South–South Relations? The Case of China and North Korea," Development and Change, International Institute of Social Studies, vol. 47(2), pages 293-316, March.
    8. Kialee Nyiayaana, 2023. "Contending Issues in Land Governance in Africa and Implications for Conflict and Peace," International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science, International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS), vol. 7(3), pages 254-261, March.

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