Book Description

In the last sixty years, many African States have been active participants in global affairs and made invaluable contributions to the search of collective solutions to the multiple challenges facing the world. However, in an increasingly complex and fragmented international system, it is vital for African States to regularly reevaluate their foreign policies to better advance their national interests while at the same time helping shape the global agenda. The strengthening of the foreign policies of African States starts at home with the improvement of the domestic governance systems. The foreign policies of African States in the 21st Century posits that in the digital era and an increasingly competitive, challenging and complex global system, many African States should consider regularly reevaluating their foreign policies and striving to make them more efficient and results oriented. Furthermore, the diversification of tools of foreign policy and the use of soft power should be part and parcel of strategies by African States to perfect how they interact and engage beyond their borders. This is a prerequisite for African States to be able to advance their individual and collective interests while in tandem, helping pursue the achievement of the pertinent regional and global agendas, through bilateral cooperation, regionalism and multilateralism, on issues of common interest for Africa and the world. The challenges that most African States face in the area of foreign policy, either individually or collectively, are manifold. However, these challenges are also opportunities for African States to enhance their foreign policies. Speaking during a discussion panel on the theme "Is digital diplomacy a future alternative?" on 4 May 2021, Ambassador Youssef Amrani, who is the Ambassador of Morocco to South Africa, argued that "COVID-19 has been a major paradigm shift for diplomats and the practice of diplomacy in a post-pandemic world with new, unprecedented challenges."[1] He explained that the COVID-19 pandemic has ushered in a new global reality in which everybody including diplomats have to adapt. Furthermore, he stressed the need for diplomats to adapt, update some of their tools during and after the pandemic. Ambassador Amrani noted that "... digital diplomacy must not be an instrument that favors the moment over the future. We must use digital diplomacy, but with control and caution. Otherwise, we risk losing relevance in trying to get efficiency."[2] The purpose of this book is to assess the current state of play, challenges, achievements, and prospects of the foreign policies of African States; and how the foreign policies of African States could become more efficient. This book will answer the following questions: What is the foreign policy of a State? How is a foreign policy defined and achieved? Why is foreign policy important? When is foreign policy considered to be successful? What are the tools of foreign policy? What is the state of play of the foreign policies of African States? What are the challenges that they face in this area? What have been the achievements of the foreign policies of African States? How have these policies contributed to promoting development, peace, and prosperity and enabled the African States to partake in global affairs and efficiently advance their interests? How can the foreign policies of African States become more effective? [1] https://www.moroccoworldnews.com/2021/05/341568/moroccan-ambassador-diplomacy-needs-to-adapt-to-post-covid-19-world/ [2] https://www.moroccoworldnews.com/2021/05/341568/moroccan-ambassador-diplomacy-needs-to-adapt-to-post-covid-19-world/