PAN-AFRICANISM AND THE AFRICAN RENAISSANCE THROUGH THE APRM

This policy briefing examines the institutionalisation of pan-Africanism and the African Renaissance within African institutions, specifically the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM). It explores the tension between universal governance norms and the need for African-led ownership and localisation to avoid neo-colonialism.

• Pan-Africanism has evolved from a 19th-century political movement in the US and Caribbean into a philosophy that supports the political, economic, and social liberation of Africa and the unification of the continent.
• The African Renaissance, popularised by Thabo Mbeki, emerged as a modern form of pan-Africanism focused on finding African solutions to African problems and overcoming economic dependence and democratic stagnation.
• There is significant discord regarding whether the APRM and NEPAD are truly African; some critics view the APRM as a "neo-colonial strategy" and argue that its adopted norms are Western rather than African.
• While the APRM was based on the OECD peer review model, proponents argue it is still an African innovation because its scope and ambition exceed those of the OECD reviews and it was adapted to the African context.
• The author concludes that because there is no single stipulated African model for governance, institutionalising pan-Africanism requires total ownership through the localisation of universal norms and the inclusion of the African diaspora.
• To achieve economic independence and reduce reliance on donor funding, the author recommends that the AU utilise revenues from import duties on non-African goods and establish a clear timetable for member states to pay their dues.

APA

Iroulo, L. (2017). PAN-AFRICANISM AND THE AFRICAN RENAISSANCE THROUGH THE APRM. South African Institute of International Affairs. https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/Policy-Briefing-162.pdf

Chicago

Iroulo, Lynda. PAN-AFRICANISM AND THE AFRICAN RENAISSANCE THROUGH THE APRM. South African Institute of International Affairs, 2017. https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/Policy-Briefing-162.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Iroulo |first1=Lynda |title=PAN-AFRICANISM AND THE AFRICAN RENAISSANCE THROUGH THE APRM |publisher=South African Institute of International Affairs |date=July 2017 |url=https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/Policy-Briefing-162.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{iroulo2017panafricanism, author = {Iroulo, Lynda}, title = {{PAN-AFRICANISM AND THE AFRICAN RENAISSANCE THROUGH THE APRM}}, institution = {South African Institute of International Affairs}, year = {2017}, month = jul, url = {https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/Policy-Briefing-162.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }