Securitarization of Africa - Literature review Example

Blairs Africa: The Politics of Securitization and Fear Africa may not be a visibly influential continent in matters of the structure of governance and power globally, but it has a central role to play especially regarding the war on terrorism. According to the former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, Africa is "scar on the conscience of the world" (Abrahamsen, 2005:56). Traditionally, the interaction of the international community with Africa was that of humanitarian and developmental assistance nature, seeking to help the continent deliver itself from humanitarian crisis and a high level of poverty.

However, the modern world dictates that the security of Africa take center-stage in addressing the greatest challenge of the 21st century which is global terrorism, with Africa posing a major risk to the west in this front (Abrahamsen, 2005:57). Therefore, the morality basis of acting, rather than the pure militarization approach is the focus of the Labour Party towards resolving the African problem. However, the major criticism of the securitization approach to Africa is that the African threat has not merited such emergency actions.

The desirability of the securitization approach as the means of developing Africa is likely to develop the threat-vulnerability policy approach, which tends to isolate the continent from the perceived enemies (Abrahamsen, 2005:61). Thus, securitization of Africa might be both undesirable and inadequate to address the social economic problem of Africa that is characterized by underdevelopment, since the approach is merely based on the perceived relationship between Africa and international security problem of terrorism (Abrahamsen, 2005:75).

Thus, while making an issue a security agenda can give the issue useful political priority, the future of development of Africa needs to be thought from a multiplicity of dimensions. ReferenceAbrahamsen, R 2005, Blairs Africa: The Politics of Securitization and Fear, Alternatives: Global, Local, Political, 30, 1, 55-80.