ABSTRACT
Africa’s history, more than that of any other continent, has been characterized by various forms of external interference, ranging from slavery, colonialism and, more recently, the effects of globalization. The enduring face of the outside world in Africa includes slave traders, missionaries, foreign aid workers, the structural adjustment policies of the IMF, UN peacekeepers and Coca-Cola, among others. However, it is arguably the overwhelming legacy of colonialism that continues to dominate African understandings of the international sphere. In relation to this are contemporary claims of neo-colonialism and what has been called the “new scramble for Africa” by existing great powers and emerging ones such as China. Tied to the former debate are questions concerning Africa’s place in the global system, including its marginalization and whether it has any agency in responding to external pressures.
