The International Impact of Oil Extraction in Africa

Vol.11,No.4(2009)

Abstract
This paper focuses on oil deposits in Africa and their impact on global politics. The role of the major international actors, the USA, China and the European Union, is discussed from the perspective of energy security after 11th September 2001. Oil industry is the fastest developing economic area in Sub-Saharan Africa but its influence on African regimes is rather controversial since the majority of the oil producers in Africa are owned by the most autocratic and oppressive regimes which are supported, in exchange for oil, by Western donors and economic partners. Oil security has thus become a major component of the international actors’ politics although each of them has a different strategy and perspective.

Keywords:
Africa; China; European Union; Globalization; Oil; USA;
Author biography

Jan Záhořík

Odborný asistent na Katedře antropologických a historických věd Fakulty filozofické ZČU v Plzni. Vědecký pracovník na Ústavu Blízkého východu a Afriky Filozofické fakulty UK v Praze.
References

Alden, C. – Large, D. – Soares de Oliveira, R. (2008): China Returns to Africa: A Rising Power and a Continent Embrace, London, Columbia University Press.
Alden, C. (2007): China in Africa, London and New York, Zed Books.
APPA Bulletin: Preparation of the 26th Meeting of Council of Ministers of APPA, Brazzaville, No. 12 December 2008.
Berger, B. (2006): China’s Engagement in Africa: Can the EU Sit Back?, South African Journal of International Affairs, Vol. XIII, No. 1 , pp. 115-127.
Breslin, S. – Taylor, I. (2008): Explaining the Rise of ‘Human Rights’ in Analyses of Sino-African Relations, Review of African Political Economy, Vol. XXXV, No. 115, pp. 59-71.
Copson, R. W. (2007): The United States in Africa: Bush Policy and Beyond, London and New York, Zed Books.
Corkin, L. (2008): All’s Fair in Loans and War. The Development of China-Angola Relations, in: K. Ampiah – S. Naidu (eds): Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon? Africa and China, Cape Town, University of Kwa-Zulu Natal Press, pp. 108-123.
Fah, G. L. T. (2007): The War on Terror, the Chad-Cameroon Pipeline, and the New Identity of the Lake Chad Basin, Journal of Contemporary African Studies, Vol. XXV, No. 1, pp. 101-117.
Gary, I. – Karl, T. L. (2003): Bottom of the Barrel: Africa’s Oil Boom and the Poor, London & Washington, Catholic Relief Services.
Johnson, D. – Kayser, C. (2005): Democratic Republic of Congo: Shadow Economies in the Heart of Darkness, in: M. Basedau – A. Mehler (eds): Resource Politics in Sub-Saharan Africa, Hamburg, Institute of African Affairs, pp. 145-172.
Klare, M. – Volman, D. (2006): America, China and the Scramble for Africa’s Oil, Review of African Political Economy, Vol. XXXIII, No. 108, pp. 297-309.
Kounou, M. (2006): Pétrole et Pauvreté au Sud du Sahara. Analyse des fondements de l’économie politice du pétrole dans le golfe de Guinée, Yaoundé, Éditions CLÉ.
Kumsa, A. (2007): Globalizace a uspořádání globálního systému, in: J. Tomeš – D. Festa – J. Novotný (eds): Konflikt světů a svět konfliktů, Praha, Nakladatelství P3K, s. 24-45.
Le Pere, G. – Shelton, G. (2007): China, Africa and South Africa: South-South Co-operation in a Global Era, Midraud, Institute for Global Dialogue.
Lecocq, B. – Schrijver, P. (2007): The War on Terror in a Haze of Dust: Potholes and Pitfalls on the Saharan Front, Journal of Contemporary African Studies, Vol. XXV, No. 1, pp. 141-164.
LePere, G. (2008): The Geo-Strategic Dimensions of the Sino-African Relationship, in: K. Ampiah – S. Naidu (eds): Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon? Africa and China, Cape Town, University of Kwa-Zulu Natal Press, pp. 20-39.
Mai, V. A. – Wisner, F. G. (2007): Toward an Angola-Strategy: Prioritizing U.S.–Angola Relations: Report of an Independent Commission Sponsored by the Centre for Preventive Action, Washington, Council on Foreign Relations.
Mbachu, D. (2006): Nigerian Resources: Changing the Playing Field, South African Journal of International Affairs, Vol. XIII, No. 1, pp. 77-82.
McCaskie, T. C. (2008): The United States, Ghana and Oil: Global and Local Perspectives, African Affairs, Vol. CVII, No. 428, pp. 313-332.
Mkandawire, T. (2005): The Global Economic Context, in: B. Wisner – C. Toulmin – R. Chitiga (eds): Towards a New Map of Africa, London, Earthscan, pp. 155-182.
Neumann, L. (2005): Oil in Sub-Saharan Africa, in: M. Basedau – A. Mehler (eds): Resource Politics in Sub-Saharan Africa, Hamburg, Institute of African Affairs, pp. 25-44.
Ngodi, E. (2008): Pétrole et géopolitique en Afrique centrale, Paris, L’Harmattan.
Okonta, I. (2008): When Citizens Revolt: Nigerian Elites, Big Oil and the Ogoni Struggle for Self-Determination, Trenton, Africa World Press.
Osaghae, E. E. (1998): Nigeria since Independence: Crippled Giant, Bloomington, Indiana University Press.
Pham, P. J. (2008): The Russian Bear Returns to Africa, World Defense Review, on-line text . [cit. 30. 6. 2009]
Shubin, V. (2004): Russia and Africa. Moving in the Right Direction?, in: I. Talyor – P. Williams (eds): Africa in International Politics. External Involvement on the Continent, London and New York, Routledge, pp. 102-115.
Tarrosy, I. (2008): Africa’s Global Positions in Light of Non-Alignment since 1955, in: T. Machalík – K. Mildnerová – J. Záhořík (eds): Viva Africa 2008: Proceedings of the IIIrd International Conference on African Studies, Plzeň, Adéla, pp. 309-318.
Tarrosy, I. (2009), osobní rozhovor, Leipzig, 4.–7. června 2009.
Tomeš, J. (2007a): Války po rozpadu bipolárního světa – tendence a příčiny, in: J. Tomeš – D. Festa – J. Novotný (eds): Konflikt světů a svět konfliktů, Praha, Nakladatelství P3K, s. 77-124.
Tomeš, J. (2007b): Nové války? Proměna charakteru a geografické distribuce ozbrojených konfliktů po konci studené války, in: J. Tomeš – D. Festa – J. Novotný (eds): Konflikt světů a svět konfliktů, Praha, Nakladatelství P3K, s. 125-179.
Turner, T. (2008): Congo Wars: Conflict, Myth, Reality, London, Zed Books.
Van de Looy, J. (2006): Africa and China: A Strategic Partnership?, ASC Working Paper 67/2006, Leiden.
Vines, A. (2006): The Scramble for Resources: African Case Studies, South African Journal of International Studies, Vol. XIII, No. 1, pp. 63-75.
Wallerstein, I. (1986): Africa and the Modern World, Trenton, Africa World Press.
Wihbey, P. M. – Schultz, P. (2002): African Oil: A Priority for U.S. National Security and African Development, Research Papers in Strategy, Washington, D. C., The Institute for Advanced Strategic and Political Studies.
World Bank (2005): Angola at a Glance, 24 August 2005.
Yates, D. (2006): The Scramble for African Oil, South African Journal of International Affairs, Vol. XIII, No. 2, pp. 10-31.
Yates, D. (2008): French Puppet, Chinese Strings. Sino-Gabonese Relations, in: K. Ampiah – S. Naidu (eds): Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon? Africa and China, Cape Town, University of Kwa-Zulu Natal Press, pp. 208-223.
Yates, D. A. (2005): Neo-„Petro-monialism“ and the Rentier State in Gabon, in: M. Basedau – A. Mehler (eds): Resource Politics in Sub-Saharan Africa, Hamburg, Institute of African Affairs, pp. 173-190.

Metrics

318

Views

180

PDF (Čeština) views