The United States and China’s competition for Africa’s resources: An analysis of its implications for security and development in the region
Loading...
Date
2025-04
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
University of New Brunswick
Abstract
Between 1881 and 1914, European colonial powers – namely the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Belgium, Spain, Portugal, and Italy invaded Africa in what became known as the Scramble for Africa, resulting in the arbitrary division of the region and plundering its resources. Africa has faced three major external pressures: colonialism, Cold War ideological battles, and the current U.S.-China rivalry. The competition between the United States and China centers around access to Africa’s abundant resources, especially oil. This study examined the security and development implications of the U.S.- China competition for Africa’s resources. Using a qualitative case study research method, the research collected data qualitatively through secondary sources. The study employed neorealism (or structural realism) as its analytical framework. The findings reveal that the United States and China have pursued different strategies to secure access to the region’s oil, which has had significant regional development and security implications.