India's rise in Africa

Abstract

India's rise in Africa has been largely overlooked, despite the important implications of the growing presence of Indian corporations and a rise in New Delhi's political ties with the continent. Not only are Indian actors providing much‐needed investment and capital, but Indo‐African connections represent a further important diversification of Africa's international relations, something which reflects a major development for the continent. Indian activity in Africa may be said to constitute a middle ground between China's profit‐maximizing and largely statist approach and the much‐resented intrusive conditionalities associated with western policies. It is evident that India's growing activity in Africa has the potential to help African companies become more efficient by exposing them to competition, new advances in technology and modern labour skills. African governments could potentially use the opportunity of an increased Indian corporate presence in Africa as sources of appropriate technology, skills and advice for economic development. However, if not handled correctly, any goodwill that India possesses in Africa will quickly be squandered and/or India will become just another actor in Africa. It is up to Africans to negotiate with Indian actors to ensure that the benefits accrued from Indo‐African ties are evenly shared and that Indian interest in the continent, alongside that of others, may help to serve as a catalyst for economic revitalization. The key issue is how African leaders can seek to leverage newfound Indian investment and interest in Africa so that Africa's place in global trade networks becomes more proactive and beneficial to the continent's citizens.

The Political Economy of Chinese and Indian Trade, Aid and Investments in Nigeria: A Comparative Analysis

“…However, similarities still exist in their strategies. For instance, the FOCAC and the India-Africa Forum Summit are used as avenues for coordinating Chinese and Indian Africa policies and programmes respectively (Anshan and April, 2013;Taylor, 2012). Furthermore, the establishment of the Chinese and Indian Exim Banks have aided the increases in the trade, aid and investment engagements between China, India and Africa.…”

“…The two Asian giants are effectively utilising their political and economic strengths to enhance their position across the world. Moreover, to attract more friends globally, both countries are using their ‘soft power’ (Huiyun 2009; Hunter 2009; Taylor 2012). While the global rise of China and India is no longer in doubt, their presence has been remarkably visible on the African continent, as they now compete not only with each other, but also with other major Western powers for Africa’s natural resources and markets.…”

“…Although the literature on China and India in Africa is now replete with contributions from members of both camps, much of the literature concentrates on Chinese activities on the continent (see for instance Alden, 2007;Alden et al, 2008;Harniet-Sievers et al, 2010;Taylor 2006Taylor , 2009Wang 2007). The role of India unfortunately has received less attention (Taylor, 2012) and attempts to offer comparative analysis on the subject are few (Cheru and Obi, 2010;Goldstein et al, 2006). To this end, this article seeks to contribute to the comparative literature on China and India in Africa by providing a nuanced analysis of the strategies adopted by both countries in their engagements on the continent.…”

Canada-Africa Relations in Changing Core-Periphery Dynamics: A Chance to “Come Back” Differently

“…Africa is the second-fastest-growing economic region after East Asia. Exceptional conditions of the last decade have spurred this growth: the financial crisis of 2008 pumped liquidity into the global system as the US Federal Reserve put in place its quantitative easing policy (Fiano 2015;Tan 2015); Africa is seen as a new frontier market (Moghalu 2010;Napier 2010) and was recipient of global flows searching higher returns on investment; and emerging economies, particularly Asian countries, are trading and investing more heavily in Africa (Nowak 2016;Taylor 2012). All of these factors, along with the continent's average growth of 4.5 percent over the past two decades (World Bank 2015), supports the observation that African economies are in fact (still) rising.…”

In from the margins? The changing place of Africa in International Relations

“…Such arguments can be extended more widely: for example, in his work on India and Africa, Taylor argues that the degree to which India is a 'scrambler or development partner … depends on African agency'. 66 One of the openings for Africa through such change is seen to be increased involvement with 'trilateral' relations between South Africa, India and Brazil; 67 however, the degree to which such 'trilateralism' will benefit the majority of African countries, particularly those with the resources wanted by other states, rather than just South Africa, is questionable.…”