Alice Rogers
In 2013, the Central African Republic experienced a profound upheaval when a rebel coalition overthrew the existing government. Since then, the country has been embroiled in a political and economic crisis, which has compelled their government to seek support from the international community. Historically, the Central African Republic’s dominant international partner has been France, which has drawn criticism for implementing neo-colonial policies in the region. Recently, the Central African government has increasingly worked with alternative international partners, namely Russia and China. The thesis will use texts on international relations theory, political theory, military theory, and economic theory to identify crucial traits that constitute traditional modes of foreign domination in Africa. It will apply these characteristics to Russia and China, while also weighing their practices with those of France.
This paper will use the Central African Republic as a case study to examine broader patterns of foreign influence in Africa. It will address the question of whether the involvement of Russia and China in Africa influences or subverts the pre-existing theoretical paradigms of foreign political and economic domination in Africa. More broadly, it will attempt to provide insight into whether world powers replicate the extent and kinds of influence colonial powers exercised in a region where they do not have a colonial legacy.
