Emerging Powers in Africa: New Wave of the Relationship?

Conveners: Dr. Alexandra A. Arkhangelskaya (Institute for African Studies, Moscow, Russia);
e-mail: aarkhangelskaya@gmail.com, Dr. Gerhard Seibert (Instituto Universitário de Lisboa, Portugal); e-mail: mailseibert@yahoo.com

The changes and challenges of the modifying world in some sectors that were ignored now are needed to be examined and are knocking at the door. The innovative character of BRICS and other rising powers in Africa, such as Turkey, South Korea, if reflected in practical actions of the association, can change perceptions of world realities that traditionally emphasize inter-State disputes and conflicts, and can contribute to the harmonization of international relations and have a significant effect on global governance. Common strategic interests that had brought BRICS states together even before the formal association was established may further prevail over their disagreements on certain issues. With a new rise of interest from the emerging powers towards Africa, it becomes clearer that these states and Africa need each other. Emerging powers represent a vast market not only for African minerals, but for various other goods and products produced by African countries. At the same time, emerging powers activities on the continent strengthens the position of African countries vis-à-vis both old and new other external players. Political and economic significance of emerging powers to Africa is reinforced by the active participation of its members in both the authoritative international organizations, such as the UN, WTO, IMF and the World Bank, and leading informal associations, including the Non-Aligned Movement, Group of 77, G-20, APEC and G-8, as well as in regional organizations in Europe, Asia, Africa and Latin America. That creates objective opportunities for the "co-participation" with other countries in building a fair polycentric world, for exerting a systemic influence on decision-making processes in a wide range of structures - from global to regional, from well- established to relatively new.