A Study Of The African Union And The Prospects Of An African Renaissance

For over a century, the African people and African countries have continuously been plagued by various ills and evils. Over the years, their hope to improve their destiny and create a better future has given birth to what is known as Pan-African Thought and the Pan-African Movement. The African Union (AU) is the third generation of the institutionalization of Pan-Africanism. Its aims are to unify the African continent, to promote peace and development in Africa and to represent all African countries as one voice, one single entity and force on the international stage. The African Renaissance will largely depend on the success of the AU.In the past few years, important and unprecedented changes that have taken place in both Africa's internal and external environments have led many people to believe that the AU can indeed succeed. At the same time, another important change is currently taking place in the world order: a shift of power from the West to the East, the East being led by China. Within the competition between those two poles, Africa is increasingly acting as a balancing force. Therefore an important question arises: to which side will Africa lean?This thesis will analyse and attempt to bring answers to the above questions. It consists of four major parts. Part One makes an account of Pan-Africanism and its institutionalization. Part Two analyses the AU, namely its role, institutional strengths and the successes that it has achieved so far. Part Three explores the various challenges facing the AU. Part Four analyses Africa's new strategic position on the international stage. Beginning with an evaluation of the present state of Africa's internal and external environments, it then elaborates on her relations——with particular attention to AU's role therein——with the major players of the international community. Finally, it reaches the conclusion that China could well be Africa's most ideal partner, in that she can play a unique role in helping Africa to realise her dream of an African Renaissance.