AFRICAN REGIONAL STUDIES

● Africa was the 3rd continent that was colonized → late 1800s
● world second-largest continent, covering about 30 million square kilometers
● 1.4 billion people, Africa is the 2nd most populous continent, with a diverse mix of
ethnic groups and languages
● Colonization dramatically altered Africa's political geography, exploiting resources
and creating enduring ethnic conflicts, which continue to affect the continent today
MODERN AFRICA

● Maasai
● Tuareg
● Mambutu
○ Indigenous past, languages and speak also the colonizers tongue
○ very rich in cultural diversity
● Hotel Rwanda → genocide
 ● We are all descendants of Africa
● Ancient Civilizations: Africa is the cradle of ancient civilizations, including Egypt,
which is known for its pyramids, hieroglyphics, contributions to early science and
mathematics
○ also in Morocco
● Transatlantic Slave Trade
○ between the 16th and 19th centuries, millions of Africans were forciblytaken
to the Americas as part of the slave trade, impacting sociites on both sides of
the Atlantic
○ selling slaves, in exchange of resources
○ there were too expensive
● Colonial Era: In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Africa was divided among
European powers. This colonial period lasted until most African countries gained
independence in the mid-20th century.
○ Berlin Conference
https://youtu.be/Fbb7nbIUUEM?si=zSI4SuAiEbTQHzHR

COLONIZATION OF AFRICA
● Treaty of Tordesillas → world divided in 2
○ Spain → America
● Suez Canal, built by France and the UK to reach India/China in a easier way
● Congo → diamonds, precious minerals and lithium
● Congo, where the diamonds are, is where Tarzan is set
● 2 countries in Africa that were never submitted:
○ Liberia
○ Abyssinia (never subject to colonization, because their reign was pretty strong
and they fought back their colonizers) → now Ethiopia (1945) , we have a
great relationship with them because MX was the only country that protested
the sovereignty of the country in WWI from the Italians
● 1910→ Liberalization of South Africa
● Reason why colonies were able to regain independence:
 ○ Europeans were weakened by the war and the USA wanted them to be
independent, they believe in economic colonization, not military colonization,
just as they did with Latin America
○ Africans were forced to fight in the WW, why are they fighting for them, wich
made a nationalism
● 1956: The Suez Canal Crisis
○ Egypt claiming the Suez Canal from the french and english, they went with
weapons
○ Soviet Union helped Egypt (nuclear weapon threat)
○ Marks the end of UK and France in the continent, left after the
● The Empty Chair Policy (1962)
○ not presenting to vote in the UN so Algeria couldnt gain independence
○ after years of a very cruel war, they won independence
○ most of the africans that go to France, are Algerians
● 1975: Morocco wants the Spanish Sahara
○ now República Árabe Saharaui Democrática
○ in war with Morocco
○ Palestinians in war with Israel
○ they left a really big mess when they were trying to be independent
● Neo-colonialism
● Africa has not have time to recover, it's a fairly “baby” continent on terms of
independence
● ORIENTALISM
● By Edward Said
○ The way the western countries perceive the rest of the countries
■ Africa
■ Asia
■ Middle East
○ “everything there is magical, exotic, etc.”
○ Far orient: Australia, Oceania
○ Everything is Eurocentric
○ Orient academics are trying to retreat the eurocentric views
■ muslims (from their own perspective, not from the eurocentric view)
○ Latin American is not considered west nor east
○ Orientalism is "a Western style for dominating, restructuring, and having
authority over the Orient."
○ Moreover, it is a way of coming to terms with the Orient (the East) that is
based on the Orient's special place in European Western culture and
experience.
○ In the light of this perception, the Middle East is static, unalterable, and can't
define itself. Therefore, through Orientalism, the West took it upon itself to
represent the Orient and by doing so opened it to exploitation.
Why didn't we have African slaves in Mexico?
● spaniards were cheap, and africans expensive
● spanish already had a lot of workforce, indigenous in MX, not like in United States

23/09/2024
AFRICA'S REGIONAL INTEGRATION
● COMESA (Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa)
○ 21 countries
○ established in 1994
○ no tariffs, trade liberalization
○ Established in 1994, evolving from the Preferential Trade Area of 1981. 21
countries spanning Eastern, Central, and Southern Africa, including Egypt,
Kenya, Ethiopia, and Zambia.
○ Aims for economic integration through trade liberalization, eventually evolving
into a full customs union (launched in 2009). They also target the free
movement of goods, services, capital, and labor across member states.
○ Political instability, economic inequalities among member states, and lack of
coordination in implementing policies make deeper integration difficult.
Additionally, infrastructure gaps and non-tariff barriers remain substantial
obstacles to free movement and trade.

ECOWAS (Economic Community of West African States)

● Formed in 1975 with a vision of integrating the economies of West Africa.
● There are 15 member states, including Nigeria, Ghana, Côte d'Ivoire, Senegal, and
Sierra Leone.
● ECOWAS focuses on economic and political integration and the eventual introduction
of a single currency, but it has been delayed repeatedly due to these economic
disparities and political reluctance. • Their main goals have been the promotion of
trade and free movement of people (through the ECOWAS passport), and engage in
peacekeeping operations within member states to ensure regional stability, like Sierra
Leone and Liberia.
● Niger is doing a really good job economically, they want to copycat the European
Union, to have a same currency
● not possible due to their countries conflicts
● ECOWAS passport
● Sierra Leone conflict, they did a really good job


UEMOA (West African Economic and Monetary Union)

● Formed in 1994 by 8 Francophone West African countries, using the CFA franc as
their common currency.
● Their Member States are: Benin, Burkina Faso, Côte d'Ivoire, Guinea- Bissau, Mali,
Niger, Senegal, and Togo.
● UEMOA seeks to deepen monetary and economic integration by harmonizing legal
and financial policies, streamlining trade, and facilitating investment within the region.
It shares a single currency, which is pegged to the euro.
○ african franc
○ euro peg
● While the single currency has been successful in providing monetary stability and
offering a stable financial environment for foreign investors, it also poses challenges
like limited monetary policy autonomy and dependence on France (through the euro
peg).

Africa has seen a lot more integration processes, which for various reason have not been
too successful:
● EAC (East African Community)
● SACU (Southern African Customs Union)
● SADC (Southern African Development Community)
● ECCAS (Economic Community of Central African States)
○ East african community, eastern countries are the poorest ones

The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA)
● Represents the largest free trade zone globally, encompassing all 55 African Union
member states. Its core objective is to create a single market for goods and services
across Africa, significantly increasing intra-continental trade and enhancing Africa's
global trading position. Officially launched in 2018, it began trading in January 2021.
● Covers over 1.3 billion people with a collective GDP exceeding $3.4 trillion, aiming to
eliminate tariffs on 90% of goods and liberalize services.
● Their goal is to facilitate free movement of goods and services, enhance economic
integration, and create job opportunities across Africa.
Milestones and Progress
● Reduction of Trade Barriers: Expected to boost intra-African trade by over 52%,
significantly reducing tariffs and non-tariff barriers that currently hinder trade within
the continent.
● Pan-African Payment Systems: To facilitate trade, the AfCFTA launched the
Pan-African Payments and Settlement System (PAPSS), aiming to simplify
cross-border payments in local currencies.
● Adjustment Fund: A $10 billion fund has been established to assist countries in
adapting to the liberalized trade environment, with Afreximbank contributing $1
billion.
Challenges
● Diverse Economies: African nations vary significantly in their economic development,
infrastructure, and institutional capacities, making harmonization and integration
complex.
● Non-Tariff Barriers: While tariffs are progressively being eliminated, non-tariff barriers
(e.g., complex regulations) remain a significant hurdle for cross-border trade.

Africa's potential market

● Africa's consumer market is rapidly growing, driven by increasing affluence,
population growth, urbanization, and expanded access to internet and mobile
phones. Household consumption has outpaced GDP growth, with consumer
expenditure reaching $1.4 trillion in 2015 and projected to hit $2.5 trillion by 2030.
● If the Continental Free Trade Area (CFTA) is fully implemented by 2030, it will create
a single market for goods and services, offering access to 1.7 billion people.
○ lot of opportunities for businesses there
Africa's potential market
● By 2030, Nigeria, Egypt, and South Africa will be Africa's largest consumer markets,
with additional opportunities in countries like Ethiopia, Ghana, and Kenya. Ethiopia,
in particular, has seen rapid economic growth and significant foreign investments,
reflecting broader confidence in the continent's potential.
 ● The agreement has the potential to lift 30 million people out of extreme poverty by
improving access to trade opportunities for smaller businesses, especially in
landlocked nations.
MX-AFRICA: Opportunity area for Mexico
● This presents an exciting prospect for Mexico to diversify its trade and foster
economic partnerships with African countries.
● Mexico is actively seeking to diversify its trade relations beyond North and South
America by strengthening ties with African nations. Engagement with regional
economic blocs like ECOWAS, COMESA, and SADC is part of this strategy, aiming
to enhance trade volumes, investment, and diplomatic ties.
● Mexico's interest in Africa largely focuses on energy, mining, agriculture, and
manufacturing. Diplomatic missions, trade summits, and bilateral cooperation have
become more frequent in recent years.
● Mexico's engagement with African regional blocs faces challenges such as political
instability, infrastructure gaps, and market access barriers in many African countries.
The lack of trade agreements or free trade areas between Mexico and African blocs
also limits the depth of economic cooperation.
○ focused in sectors as mining, interested in agriculture and manufacturing
○ we only have 7 embassies in all Africa
ASIAN REGIONAL STUDIES

● 3 biggest countries, 2 in people (China and India) and 1 in territory (Russia)

Asian Values
Remember Orientalism?
● It is a way of coming to terms with the Orient (the East) that is based on the Orient's
special place in European Western culture and experience.
● Asian values, particularly derived from Confucianism, emphasize discipline, hard
work, frugality, respect for authority, and prioritizing community over individualism.
 ● Prominent in East Asia, especially in countries like China, Japan, Korea, and
Singapore, these values have played a significant role in shaping social, political, and
economic life.
Confucianism
● Confucianism is more than a philosophy; it's a worldview and way of life that has
shaped governance, education, family, and societal interactions for over two
millennia.
● Focuses on human relationships, ancestor reverence, and social harmony through
respect for hierarchy and ritualized life.
● Confucius believed in learning from the past to address future challenges,
highlighting continuity and collective responsibility.
○ honor to family, parents, etc. respect to their elders, authorities, collectivism
○ specially in the Chinese culture, time isn't linear, time is a circular conception
○ so they are approaching another circle on their lives
Western misunderstandings
● Western cultures, which prioritize individualism, may find Confucianism's collectivist
approach difficult to understand. The emphasis on social harmony, authority, and
communal duty can seem alien to liberal democratic principles.
● While Western systems promote individual rights and democracy, Confucianism
prioritizes social stability, state authority, and communal progress, creating a different
vision of governance and social order.
Why the West Could Benefit from Understanding Asian Values
● Understanding Asian values can offer lessons on balancing individual rights with
social responsibility.
● For Western nations, adopting some Confucian ideals like respect for education,
discipline, and communal progress can enhance social cohesion and promote
long-term growth, offering alternatives to excessive individualism and consumerism.
● If you climb up the corporate ladder: intelligent, responsible, disciplines → bring more
honor to their parents, family and society
○ live with a lot of anxiety
○ constant effort to try to not disappoint their families
Challenges and Criticism
● Critics argue that Asian values are sometimes used to justify authoritarianism,
restricting human rights and individual freedoms.
● The Asian financial crisis (1997-98) exposed vulnerabilities in the economic systems
despite the success attributed to Asian values.
● Critics also question the sustainability of blending Confucian values with capitalist
development, which can disrupt traditional social orders.
● ASIAN FINANCIAL CRISIS IN 1998
● vulnerabilities of their system
● values as a justification to implement authoritarianism

Singapore president for many years, didn't see it as a dictatorship → they admired him and
developed the country


Can Asian Values Align with Global Human Rights?

 ● Some scholars argue that Confucian values can complement human rights by
enriching global discourse on justice and equality.
● Asian values, if reframed, can support dignity and well-being while promoting a more
inclusive, globally relevant system of governance.
○ Philippines: ex president Rodrigo Duterte

Chinese traditional value: Property

12 Traditional Chinese Values: Propriety