The role of the emerging economies of Africa was discussed at the recent summit of the African Union. Africa’s resources are crucial to fuel such economic powerhouses as India, Brazil and China, and India must accelerate its trade and aid relationship with the continent.
By backing Malian troops, France seeks to stabilize the situation as an African multinational force moves in to help. However, with a stagnant economy and, the central EU bodies providing just rhetorical backing, Paris cannot continue the commitment on its own for long.
The propensity of Africa’s leaders to seek medical treatment abroad illustrates the little faith they have in their own healthcare systems. Given how countless Africans don’t have the resources to follow their leaders’ steps, there should be increased political will to make affordable healthcare available at home.
On March 2, 2012, the Islamic Republic of Iran will hold its ninth parliamentary election. The outcome and state decisions that follow will have significant effects on India, which has strong political relations with Iran and relies on it for a considerable portion of its energy imports.
India’s demand for resource security, potential trade and investment opportunities and a strategic partnership with the African Union is similar to that of China; but the approach that each nation has taken is rather different.
Fighting inequality requires pro-fairness reforms, fundamental access to cornerstones like higher education and not rewarding the wealthy with concessions.
Angela Merkel's one day visits to Kenya, Angola, and Nigeria show that Germany is not all that interested in Africa. In the meantime, countries less preoccupied with demanding human rights requirements on their investments are building strong ties with Africa.
India and Brazil’s increasing engagement in Africa is a clear sign that both countries are embracing their new roles as global diplomats. By joining forces to bolster Africa’s food security, they have the chance to break ground on a tangible agenda that could have a far-reaching impact on matters of global concern
Corruption has become a galling global phenomenon: structured, vertically-integrated networks, whose objective is the extraction of resources, are forming in countries around the globe. And strikingly, these structures are masquerading as democratically-elected, seemingly-open governments.
The quarterly review includes all Features written exclusively (unless mentioned otherwise) for Gateway House: Indian Council on Global Relations by various contributors and Gateway House staff.
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