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Paper short abstract

There has been much discussion in recent years of the emergence of a New Cold War between China and the US in particular. This paper examines the networkality and territoriality of the New Cold War in Africa. Recent developments in Zambia are explored, as are those in the Sahel.

Paper long abstract

There has been much discussion in recent years of the emergence of a New Cold War between China and the US in particular. This competition is often thought to revolve around networks rather than territories, but this now appears to be changing. This paper examines the networkality and territoriality of the New Cold War in Africa. In particular it engages with ideas around omni-alignment, Chinese “webpower” and American use of “weaponised interdependence”. Recent developments in Zambia are explored, as are those in the Sahel. The paper explores the dynamics of territorial and network competition and counter movements and reactions to them and how national political actors leverage and negotiate external inducements, pressures and punishments. The re-emergence of military regimes on the continent is explored as is the idea of the simultaneous decline of Chinese and American influence in particular, even as other powers such as Russia deepen their engagement. The long-term implications of these power reconfigurations are explored, as are some of the potential economic impacts. Even as globalisation and network imbrication complicates alignment with different poles in the global political economy, to the exclusion of others, in some cases through “tariffication as sanction” policies countries such as South Africa are forced to chose sides often resulting in the long-term decline of American influence.