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Russia in Africa: Resurgent Great Power or Bellicose Pretender?
Three decades after the Soviet Union’s collapse, Russia has transformed from a fringe player to a resurgent great power in Africa. The October 2019 Russia-Africa Summit in Sochi highlighted the appeal of Russia’s normative agenda, the ubiquity of Russian military technology, and the breadth of Moscow’s presence on the continent. Beneath the pageantry, a darker side of Russia’s African resurgence looms large. From Libya to Madagascar, Russia has used sinister tactics to expand its influence, such as private military contractors, shadowy mining and energy deals with authoritarian regimes, and election interference campaigns.
This book presents a chronological examination of Russia’s post-Cold War foreign policy towards Africa, and outlines the factors that have enabled and impeded the growth of its influence. It pays special attention to the non-material factors behind this rising power; the domestic drivers of Russian decision-making; Moscow’s relationships with fellow external powers; and African perspectives on Russia’s geopolitical role. Samuel Ramani’s analysis cites extensively both Russian-language media and academic sources, and his own interviews with Russian and African elites. His fascinating study challenges popular depictions of Russia as an opportunistic anti-Western actor, instead emphasising Moscow’s strategic commitment to Africa and the endurance of historical memory.
This book presents a chronological examination of Russia’s post-Cold War foreign policy towards Africa, and outlines the factors that have enabled and impeded the growth of its influence. It pays special attention to the non-material factors behind this rising power; the domestic drivers of Russian decision-making; Moscow’s relationships with fellow external powers; and African perspectives on Russia’s geopolitical role. Samuel Ramani’s analysis cites extensively both Russian-language media and academic sources, and his own interviews with Russian and African elites. His fascinating study challenges popular depictions of Russia as an opportunistic anti-Western actor, instead emphasising Moscow’s strategic commitment to Africa and the endurance of historical memory.
320 pages, Hardcover
First published February 8, 2023
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February 1, 2025
10% interesting information, 90% mindless repetition, as par for the course with political "scientists."
He makes out like meetings between heads of state and diplomats are all big watershed events, which makes one wonder if he ever heard of the fruitless Hitler-Franco meeting at Hendaye.
Likewise, he celebrates each and every agreement like it was the Magna Carta, which makes one wonder if he is aware that both the Molotov-Ribbentrop and Molotov-Matsuoka treaties were ripped up when it proved convenient for one of the contracting parties.
He would have served readers better if he had simply summarised all the meetings and treaties in a table, then, in the text, indicate if either were followed up on.
The 10% that is useful, however, is key to understanding the fact that morality and ethics does not transcend cultures and borders. While almost everyone in the West condemned Putin's invasion of Russia, not a single African nation has embargoed or sanctioned Russia. So much for the hundreds of billions of Western taxpayer dollars and pounds wasted "spreading democratic values to Africa!"
He makes out like meetings between heads of state and diplomats are all big watershed events, which makes one wonder if he ever heard of the fruitless Hitler-Franco meeting at Hendaye.
Likewise, he celebrates each and every agreement like it was the Magna Carta, which makes one wonder if he is aware that both the Molotov-Ribbentrop and Molotov-Matsuoka treaties were ripped up when it proved convenient for one of the contracting parties.
He would have served readers better if he had simply summarised all the meetings and treaties in a table, then, in the text, indicate if either were followed up on.
The 10% that is useful, however, is key to understanding the fact that morality and ethics does not transcend cultures and borders. While almost everyone in the West condemned Putin's invasion of Russia, not a single African nation has embargoed or sanctioned Russia. So much for the hundreds of billions of Western taxpayer dollars and pounds wasted "spreading democratic values to Africa!"
Displaying 1 of 1 review