Title: Who Owns Africa? How Colonial Legacies are Shaping Contemporary Economic Realities
Editor:
Jude Edeh
INSEEC School of Business and Economics, Paris, France
Background:
The Scramble for Africa (1881–1914), culminating in the Berlin Conference of 1884–1885, marked a period of colonisation by European powers (Pakenham, 1991). During this time, Africa's economies were restructured to serve colonial interests—namely, the extraction of raw materials for European industries, the arbitrary redrawing of borders that disrupted ethnic and political systems, and the imposition of foreign governance models that continue to shape post-independence social, cultural, economic, and political trajectories (Griffiths, 1986; Chamberlain, 2010; Zhang & Lu, 2025).
Fast forward to the 21st century, and a new Scramble for Africa is underway (Lee, 2006; Michalopoulos & Papaioannou, 2016). This time, it is not driven by direct and formal colonisation but rather by foreign investments, resource extraction, debt diplomacy, strategic resource control, trade competition, and globalisation (Moyo, Yeros, & Jha, 2012; Carmody, 2016; Tunn et al., 2025). In other words, the business of the Scramble for Africa remains unfinished, as the continent continues to be at the centre of intense geopolitical and economic competition, though with different actors and models. Major global powers, including China, the United States, the European Union, Russia, and other emerging players, compete for Africa’s resources, markets, and strategic influence (Boafo et al., 2024; Chirisa et al., 2024). Furthermore, Western multinational corporations continue to influence African economies, labour markets, and governance structures.
Against this background, this edited volume aims to examine how colonial legacies continue to influence Africa’s current development landscape and structures, but with a strong emphasis on the present and future realities. While historical foundations are vital for understanding, the central purpose of the edited book is to assess how contemporary challenges reflect these legacies and explore forward-looking solutions for structural transformation and sustainable economic growth. In other words, contributors are encouraged to focus their analysis on current realities and future implications while grounding their insights in relevant historical context.
Thematic Areas:
Contributions may focus on one or more African countries, sub-regions, or regional bodies. Authors are encouraged to incorporate historical legacies only to the extent they help illuminate today’s realities and possibilities for reform.
1. Resource Control & Extractive Industries
• How have colonial-era extraction systems shaped post-independence patterns of resource dependence?
• What role do governance and institutional capacity play in managing resource wealth?
• How can countries overcome the legacy of extractive dependence to achieve structural transformation?
2. Trade & Economic Structures
• Do Africa’s current trade flows and infrastructure reflect colonial-era patterns?
• How can AfCFTA shift the continent beyond historic trade fragmentation?
• What institutional constraints hamper intra-African trade and regional integration?
3. Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) & Economic Sovereignty
• How does Africa’s FDI landscape reflect extractive legacies?
• How do the investment strategies of China, the EU, and the US differ across sectors?
• What are the implications of multipolar FDI competition for African economic agency?
4. Financial Systems & Currency Dependency
• Beyond the CFA franc, how have different colonial monetary zones (French, British, Portuguese) shaped financial trajectories?
• How can African countries design resilient and inclusive financial systems that balance global integration with local development priorities?
• What role can fintech, digital currencies, and regional banking integration play in reducing dependency on global financial centres?
5. Human Capital, Education & the Knowledge Economy
• How do Africa’s current education systems reflect colonial legacies in ideology, structure, or elite formation?
• What reforms are needed to align education with the continent’s economic priorities?
• How do diaspora networks and international partnerships contribute to knowledge transfer and innovation?
6. Sectoral Governance & Institutional Legacies
• How do sectoral structures (e.g., agriculture, energy, ICT) still reflect colonial governance models?
• How can contemporary institutions be redesigned to better reflect African realities and aspirations?
• What institutional innovations are emerging across sectors that challenge or reconfigure colonial-era legacies in governance and service delivery?
7. Geopolitics & Strategic Alliances
• How do today’s geopolitical dynamics mirror or diverge from colonial alliances?
• What role can the AU and BRICS+ play in advancing African sovereignty?
• How can Africa better leverage its collective power in global negotiations?
Who Can Contribute?
This volume invites chapters from scholars, development practitioners, policymakers, economists, historians, and business leaders. Interdisciplinary and cross-regional contributions are encouraged. Contributors may use single-country or comparative case studies.
Submission Guidelines:
Step 1: Extended Abstract Submission
Submit an abstract (up to 2,000 words) including:
• Title
• Introduction & Research Relevance
• Methodology (if empirical)
• Key Findings & Discussion
• Conclusion & Implications
Deadline: October 30, 2025
Step 2: Full Chapter Submission
Selected authors will be invited to submit full chapters (max. 8,000 words).
Deadline: February 25, 2026
Published by: Centre for Emerging Markets, Johannesburg, South Africa
Submission & Contact
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Subject line: Chapter Submission – Who Owns Africa
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