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The Revival of Non‐Traditional State Actors' Interests in Africa: Does it Matter for Policy Autonomy?
Author(s) -
Kragelund Peter
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
development policy review
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.671
H-Index - 61
eISSN - 1467-7679
pISSN - 0950-6764
DOI - 10.1111/j.1467-7679.2012.00595.x
Subject(s) - autonomy , state (computer science) , china , commodity , power (physics) , economics , political economy , economic system , development economics , market economy , political science , law , physics , algorithm , quantum mechanics , computer science
Africa's external relations are currently undergoing major changes. Non‐traditional state actors like China and India are reviving their ties with African economies and thereby affecting power relations between African states and traditional partners. Meanwhile, high commodity prices and improved credit ratings make external finance available for African governments. This article examines how non‐traditional state actors affect the possibility of African governments setting and funding their own development priorities. It argues that while the current situation may increase the policy autonomy for African economies this is largely a consequence of the increased availability of external finance – and not just from non‐traditional state actors.