International politics

Sweden-Norway at the Berlin Conference 1884–85 : History, national identity-making and Sweden's relations with Africa

Upphovsperson:	Nilsson, David
Utgivare:	Nordiska Afrikainstitutet, Agrarian Change, Property and Resources |
År:	2013
Ämnesord:	Sweden, Africa, Foreign relations, colonialism, International politics, Colonial history

The image of Sweden is one of a small, democratic and peace-loving country without the moral burden of a colonial past. However, in this Current African Issues publication, the notion that Sweden lacks a colonial past in Africa is brought into question. At the Berlin Conference 1884–85, the rules for colonisation of Africa were agreed upon among a handful of white men. With the blessing of King Oscar II, the united kingdoms of Sweden-Norway participated in the Berlin conference, ratified the resulting convention and signed a trade agreement with King Leopold’s International Congo Association. Thereafter, hundreds of Swedish militaries, seamen and missionaries took an active part in the brutal colonial project in the Congo. What was Sweden-Norway really doing at the Berlin Conference and in the ensuing Scramble for Africa? Is it now time to re-assess Swedish identity in relation to Africa, an identity so far centered on colonial innocence? Dr DAVID NILSSON is a researcher at the Division of History of Science, Technology and Environment, Royal Institute of Technology, Sweden. His research focuses on global longtermperspectives on sustainable development in Africa.

The African Union in Light of the Arab Revolts : An appraisal of the foreign policy and security objectives of South Africa, Ethiopia and Algeria

Medarbetare:	Gelot, Linnea | Eriksson, Mikael
Utgivare:	Nordiska Afrikainstitutet; The Swedish Defence Research Agency
År:	2013
Ämnesord:	African Union, Regional cooperatio, n Foreign policy, Foreign relations, International politics, Regional security, Algeria, Ethiopia, South Africa

The fall of authoritarian regimes in Tunisia, Egypt and Libya has changed political dynamics on the African continent. One immediate concern has been the implications of these developments for the African Union (AU) and its member states. Would overall political dynamics in the AU be changed? Would the most powerful member states use the altered circumstances to enhance their influence on AU policies andframeworks? What would the impact be for the AU's overall authority? In this Discussion Paper series, three edited papers are presented that tackle AU political and institutional dynamics in light of the Arab revolts. A particular puzzle addressed is the current postures of South Africa,Ethiopia and Algeria within the AU. A separate analysis of Nigeria's role was published earlier in the NAI-FOI Lecture Series on African Security. The work in this discussion series reflects the longstanding collaboration between the Swedish Defence Research Agency's Project Studies in African Security and the Nordic Africa Institute to build Africa-related research capacity on peace and security.

African conflicts and Informal Power : Big Men and Networks

Medarbetare:	Utas, Mats
Utgivare:	Nordiska Afrikainstitutet; Zed Books
År:	2012
Ämnesord:	Africa, conflicts, Foreign intervention, Dispute settlement, International politics, International relations, Post-conflict reconstruction, State, Local government, Political power, Informal sector, case studies, Political science, Statsvetenskap

Through a variety of indepth case studies – from DRC to Somalia to Liberia amongst others – this book shows how important informal political and economic networks are in many of the continent’s  conflict areas.

South Africa and global apartheid : continental and international policies and politics

Medarbetare:	Bond, Patrick
Utgivare:	Uppsala : Nordiska Afrikainstitutet
År:	2004
Ämnesord:	Africa, South Africa, Post apartheid, NEPAD, international economic relations, International politics, Globalisation, SOCIAL SCIENCES, SAMHÄLLSVETENSKAP

This study covers a variety of political and economic aspects of Africa's and South Africa's relationships to the world. The author considers the context of global apartheid, in terms of international stagnation, uneven development and African marginalisation, and evaluates the South African setting as a telling site of worsening inequality. Where does then the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD) stand on the largest economic and political problems? South Africa's other proposed global reforms are also discussed. Finally, the author records an emerging ideology based not on commodification via globalisation but on decommodification and deglobalisation, and the strategies, tactics and alliances required for African and international progress. CONTENT The context of global apartheid Class apartheid in South Africa NEPAD economics and global apartheid Whose NEPAD? South Africa’s frustrated international reforms Conclusion: African anti-capitalism? Figures and Table