The New International Political Economy of Africa: A Pan African Perspective

Whereas much discussion has already begun regarding “Identity” and the contemporary African material condition, given that neocolonialism was originally an international political-economic term; the current paper resuscitates the debate examining it in the context of the new international political economy (IPE). Three principles anchor Pan African IPE perspectives – collective self-reliance and self-sustaining development, and economic growth (Maloka); and prospects of “delinking and autocentricity” (Samir Amin and Kidane Mengisteab) viz a viz African global economic engagement. The essay interrogates the extent to which for the contemporary African political economy, Pan Africanism represents a “third way” ideology, certainly rejecting neoliberalism, but not fully accepting structuralism in its classic themes either. New theories emerging from the “De-colonial” (Sabelo J. Ndlovu-Gatsheni) school complicate our narratives about international political economy of Africa. Whether Africa is neo-colonized or post-colonial, presents important insights for the Pan Africanist School as was once reflected by the classic discourse of George Padmore in his 1960’s monograph, Communism or Pan Africanism. Empirically, as well, African nations as a collective entity – through the pioneering platform of the Organization of African Unity (OAU) now the African Union (AU) – have increasingly and progressively put forth the notion of a “Pan African international political-economy.” This is seen in the 2013 50th Anniversary Solemn Declaration which affirmed the continent’s commitment to the ideals of Pan Africanism. Members made a commitment to the African political-economic agenda whereby the Continent’s political, social and economic integration agenda would be speeded up by the implementation of an African Economic Community, Continental Free Trade Area, and political union in a common continental governance and democracy.The essay will begin a theoretical exploration to help student-scholars of Africa to understand the continent through its political-economy and from the ideological perspective that Africans self-describe as Pan Africanism as such. Based on a future manuscript with the same title, the essay is inspired by several questions. Why is Africa still poor? Has development worked for Africa? Why do many African countries experience growth without development or neither? What does Africa need to do to substantially grow, develop? Why is Africa’s regional status so marginal vis a vis the global economy? Is Africa neo-colonized or post-colonial? What is the status of liberation leadership and movements in contemporary Africa? Why isn’t liberal democracy enough for African people? What is the relationship between democracy and development for contemporary Africa? Can the global economy help Africa? What do Africans want from the global economy? In conducting both a cross-national, as well as a macro case study analysis of political-economic trends and progress in Africa vis a vis the contemporary global economy; the essay will answer these questions by addressing critical sub topics in the IPE of African development in the millennium and the implications of a post development ideology. It examines African responses to enhanced structural adjustment – fair trade, aid, poverty reduction- China-Africa debates, new forms of African socialism and the political-economy of democracy, African initiatives in industrial-led development in mining, infrastructure, and the continental free trade area, African emerging markets, and new themes including Afri-capitalism and Ubuntu economics. These topics will guide the essay’s core thesis about Africa’s Pan African global political-economic agenda as the second millennium advances.