African-Asian relations in the era of western domination of global economy

Abstract

In a world characterized by economic hegemons, contemporary African-Asian relations are subject to the influences of Euro-American dominance on the one hand and the imperfections of regional integration processes and local challenges on the other. Historically grounded in anti-colonial solidarity, these ties have shifted to strategic economic partnerships as both regions seek to carve their paths in what is becoming an increasingly Western-led world order. The 1955 Bandung Conference was an important event where newly independent countries came together in solidarity against imperialism and called for South-South cooperation. China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and India’s investment in African infrastructure are among modern examples of growing engagements in the continent, propelled by trade, resource extraction, and geopolitical influence. However, these ties are also controversial—although they provide alternatives to conditionalities imposed by Western powers, critics point to neo-colonial threats as well, such as debt dependency and unbalanced trade. Asia’s dollar-fuelled ascent has mapped out a new geography for Africa in global supply chains, but the inequalities of the structure remain. Western lenders retain a stranglehold on capital flows, while East African countries rely more and more on Asian markets for technology, loans, and infrastructure. Rivalry between smaller Asian economies includes Japan and South Korea, having developed aid and soft power in contrast to China’s state-driven investments. Africa’s AfCFTA, meanwhile,  aims to emulate ASEAN’s integration model to increase regional self-reliance. These shifts reveal a dual-pronged reality: Afro-Asian relations contest Western hegemony while being conditioned by it. Externally, tensions cloud the relationship, from “sovereign power” labor disputes involving Asian-owned mines in Africa to debates over sustainable development. However, if shared interests in a multipolar world are increasing, asymmetries of power and control of resources remain. This study suggests that despite the transformative potential of African-Asian relations, these relations require overcoming neo-extractive tendencies to attain equitable growth. As the two regions reshape the global future of globalization, their partnership has the potential to either reproduce old hierarchies or pave the way for alternative economic paradigms that transcend Western hegemony.