Concept Note

International Conference

on

Emerging Asian Powers in Africa

 South- South Co-operation is entering a new era with the advent of emerging powers in the world scenario. ‘Emerging powers’ is a phrase coined to describe a new group of states which have a strong international identity, reforming character in combination with economic power, military might and diplomatic acumen. For instance, in the context of globalization and the current global financial crisis, emerging powers of Asia are making a rapid entry into Africa. These powerful emerging countries loosen financial constraints and conditionalities, increase the room for maneuver, and stimulate commodity markets in Africa. Their rapidly expanding engagements in the fields of development co-operation, trade and investment are being lauded as a vehicle for boosting African growth. This involvement seems to impact the development trajectory of the African continent, with the driving force of growth being the high demand for minerals and oil, and the increased levels of investment from these countries. 

Emerging powers are also regional powers that have an enormous influence in the region.  This conference considers the role played by emerging powers engaged in Africa, particularly India, China, Korea, Japan, Malaysia, Indonesia and Turkey. These countries have at various times openly declared their economic interests in gaining access to African resources and, to a certain extent, their markets. They have all used a combination of public and private sector means to achieve their aims. Therefore, the changing dynamics of Africa’s international politics in relation to these new actors have enormous implications for Africa and its development aspirations. 

The growing involvement of emerging powers in Africa is the subject of much debate among academics and policy makers, the main issue being whether the presence of new actors in Africa would be beneficial to the respective economies. According to some analysts, the presence of emerging powers in Africa may promote both complementary win-win and competitive win-lose outcomes. There is also the question of whether the global crisis, which has had a profound effect on Africa, will lead to a withdrawal or to a passing of the baton on to new, emerging powers.

One major focus of this conference would be to analyse the role of the new external actors in Africa. The goal is to cultivate curiosity, encourage debate, as well as canvass and recast contemporary voices so as to help identify strategies to ensure that Africa is able to clearly define its interests towards these new actors in a way that is beneficial to the continent. This conference  would like to highlight the new geopolitical issues concerning Africa in a multi-polar world, then discusses the new players involved in co-operation in Africa, before going on to explore the horizons of co-operation that are opening up in Africa, particularly with regard to the global crisis.

What is the relationship between emerging powers and African states? How do emerging powers explain their relationship with Africa? How do they balance foreign policy concerns and economic interests in their Africa policy? How do these emerging powers manage activities of their national economic actors operating in Africa? The evolving nature of relations between emerging powers and Africa has thrown up both the difference and similarities experienced by these powers and African states, as well as the challenges and risks that differing approaches hold for African development.

Against this backdrop, the Centre for African Studies, University of Mumbai, jointly with the Policy Research Institute of African Studies Association of India (PRIASA), decided to organize an International Conference on Emerging Asian Powers in Africa.   

 Research papers are invited on the following sub-themes which will be the focus of the seminar  

1)        Relationship between the Emerging Asian Powers and Africa

2)        The Policies of Emerging Asian Powers towards Afric for Resources in Africa

4)         Asian Diaspora and their Contributions