Understanding Soft Power in Africa
The Power of Attraction from Pretoria to Beijing
Format:Hardback
Publisher:Taylor & Francis Ltd
Published:21st Oct '25
Currently unavailable, and unfortunately no date known when it will be back
Negative images of Africa, which define the continent as being riven with poverty, crime, or war, are increasingly being challenged. Examples of soft power, such as Nigeria’s Nollywood, athletic successes in Kenya, Rwanda’s commercial diplomacy, and South Africa’s liberal constitution, are all reasserting African agency and shaping more positive understandings of the continent.
This book considers the role and impact of soft power in the African context and how it relates to the 21st century scramble for Africa. Bringing together leading scholars in the field, this book delves into various aspects of soft power in Africa, shedding light on how the continent’s attractiveness is shaped by soft power in the continent’s biggest states, the small states, and also the regional organisations, such as the African Union (AU), Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), Southern African Development Community (SADC), and East African Community (EAC). The book then goes on to assess the ways in which great powers, most notably China, the United States, the United Kingdom, Brazil, and France, are themselves deploying soft power in Africa in order to vie for influence, resources, and strategic advantages.
Understanding Soft Power in Africa will be an important read for researchers in political science, international relations, African studies, and cultural studies, as well as for African policymakers.
"For too long, superpowers have dominated the analysis and practice of soft power diplomacy. Building on Oluwaseun Tella’s path-breaking work, Africa’s Soft Power, this volume challenges that dominance by amplifying African voices and perspectives in soft power discourse. Tella and his colleagues not only highlight Africa’s agency in shaping global influence but also demonstrate that attraction and influence — the core objectives of soft power diplomacy — are reciprocal and mutually reinforcing, rather than the exclusive domain of superpowers."
Eghosa E. Osaghae, Director-General, Nigerian Institute of International Affairs, Lagos, Nigeria.
"This book offers a wide-ranging account of the soft power of Africa, not just of specific nations on the continent, but also the soft power of external nations within Africa as well as the soft power of greater international bodies that impact on Africa. Africa has long been a neglected continent, both among western and eastern states, as well as among scholars. In the present polycrisis facing our world, we need to embrace the greater potential for solutions within the avenue of soft power, and also to expand our attention to the heretofore neglected continent."
Giulio Gallarotti, Professor of Government at Wesleyan University, Connecticut, and Adjunct Professor of Political Science at Columbia University, New York, United States.
"Building seamlessly on Oluwaseun Tella’s earlier groundbreaking study on soft power, this book is a tour de force in examining the theory and practice of attraction in Africa. Its strength lies in its bold exploration of the nuances of soft power, analyzing Africa’s regional powers, small yet influential states, regional organizations, and key global actors. Offering a comprehensive and insightful perspective, it provides a compelling read on soft power in an evolving global diplomatic landscape."
Peter Kagwanja, President and Chief Executive, Africa Policy Institute, Nairobi, and Adjunct Professor of Diplomacy and International Studies, University of Nairobi, Kenya.
ISBN: 9781032949246
Dimensions: unknown
Weight: 770g
304 pages