ABSTRACT
In this chapter I will argue that the prospects for human security in the regional context of Africa, and the closely associated problems of development, are impacted by globalization in general and the activities of the new grouping of emerging powers including Brazil, Russia, India and China (BRICs). In making this argument I will highlight several facets of human security and development problems in Africa, including the privatization of security and spread of small arms in the region; humanitarian interventions and the elusiveness of ‘liberal peace’ exported from the outside; the role of BRICs, in particular China, in the political economy of resources in fragile states; and the multi-actor coalitions in movements such as banning landmines and abolishing trade in dirty diamonds. With this nexus of interactions between the global level, the BRICs, and Africa I will ask: what are the lessons that human security problems in Africa present for the analysis of global and regional problems? Do we need to rethink the cooperation among disciplines and fields of research like international relations (IR), political economy, development and security studies and related fields? What policy lessons can we point at state and non-state actors?
