Tension between the West and Russia: implications for Africa

This research paper examines the historical context of superpower competition in Africa during the Cold War and analyzes the potential implications of a 'new' Cold War or a shift toward multi-polarity between the West and Russia for African states.

• During the original Cold War, the West employed a 'pragmatic' strategy in Africa, prioritizing the containment of Marxism-Leninism over the promotion of democracy, which led to alliances with authoritarian one-party states such as Kenya, Côte d’Ivoire, Nigeria, and Zaire.
• The Soviet Union expanded its African influence by providing weapons and financial aid to ideologically aligned states, specifically gaining influence in Ethiopia, Mozambique, and Angola. Russia continues to leverage this history, evidenced by the recent cancellation of $4 billion in consolidated Cold War debt for Angola.
• A potential 'new' Cold War would likely be defined by a divide between liberal democracies (the USA and European Union) and authoritarian non-democracies (including Russia, China, and Iran), rather than the previous ideological clash between capitalism and communism.
• Current global economic interdependence makes a repeat of 20th-century Cold War hostilities unlikely. While President Dmitry Medvedev advocates for a multi-polar world and friendly relations, tension persists as Russia seeks to maintain influence in neighboring states while the West seeks to contain it.
• A shift toward multi-polarity could either strengthen the bargaining power of African governments by allowing them to negotiate better terms with competing partners or constrain their development through pressures from the side they choose. To maximize benefits, African states are advised to maintain neutrality and seek complementary investments to avoid diminishing economic opportunities.

APA

South African Institute of International Affairs (2008). Tension between the West and Russia: implications for Africa. https://saiia.org.za/research/tension-between-the-west-and-russia-implications-for-africa/

Chicago

South African Institute of International Affairs. Tension between the West and Russia: implications for Africa. 2008. https://saiia.org.za/research/tension-between-the-west-and-russia-implications-for-africa/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=South African Institute of International Affairs |title=Tension between the West and Russia: implications for Africa |date=5 October 2008 |url=https://saiia.org.za/research/tension-between-the-west-and-russia-implications-for-africa/ |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{southafricaninstituteofinternationalaffairs2008tension, author = {{South African Institute of International Affairs}}, title = {{Tension between the West and Russia: implications for Africa}}, institution = {South African Institute of International Affairs}, year = {2008}, month = oct, url = {https://saiia.org.za/research/tension-between-the-west-and-russia-implications-for-africa/}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }