African emerging powers

Abstract

Once considered almost solely a site of poverty and conflict, sub-Saharan Africa and perceptions of it have gradually been changing. Today, African states have become important actors in international affairs, with a number considered as emerging powers. The subcontinent’s most assertive players have been capitalising on their natural wealth and recent economic growth and have implemented policies pursuant to a change of status from developing countries to emerging powers. This report looks at four such subSaharan countries – South Africa, Nigeria, Angola and Kenya – and explores the reasons for both optimism and pessimism regarding their considerable potential, as well as their governments’ initiatives to fulfl it.