Turkish and BRICS Engagement in Africa: Between humanitarian and economic interests

Elem Eyrice, Tepeciklioğlu and M. Evren, Tok and Syed Abul, Basher (2017): Turkish and BRICS Engagement in Africa: Between humanitarian and economic interests.

Abstract

This paper studies the political economy of Turkey’s relations with Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) since 2002 while under the Justice and Development Party’s (AKP) rule. It argues that Turkey has focused its engagement in Africa mostly on humanitarian assistance and the economy. Contextualizing Turkey’s relations with SSA vis-à-vis other emerging market economies, especially the BRICS (Brazil/Russia/India/China/South Africa) bloc, provides ample insights into the nature of Turkey’s engagement in SSA. While Turkey’s involvement has some similarities to that of the BRICS, there are greater fundamental and structural differences from how the BRICS established their presence in SSA. These differences mostly find resonance in when we juxtapose the activism of non-governmental actors engaging in humanitarian missions and charity work with trade related economic investments and activism.

• Item Type: MPRA Paper
• Language: English
• Keywords: Turkey; Sub-Saharan Africa; political economy; BRICS; trade; humanitarian assistance
• Subjects: F - International Economics > F5 - International Relations, National Security, and International Political Economy > F50 - General; N - Economic History > N7 - Transport, Trade, Energy, Technology, and Other Services > N77 - Africa ; Oceania

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