The African flank of the Great Indo-Pacific Areal:  Strategic significance and associated challenges

Occupation: Deputy-Director, Institute for African Studies RAS; member, Editorial Board, “Aziya i Afrika segodnya” journal,
Affiliation: Institute for African Studies, Russian Academy of Sciences
Address: Russian Federation, Moscow

Journal name

Asia and Africa Today

Edition

Issue 11

Pages

5-12

Abstract

The “West to East shift” in the dynamics of global development and in defining trends of the world order restructuring goes hand in hand with a synchronous rearrangement of the balances of geopolitical and geoeconomic power from the Euro-Atlantic to the Indo-Pacific area. Those phenomena comply with the more general dialectical laws of the contemporary world development, one set of which relates, in particular, to the interconnection between the processes of globalization and regionalization, on the one hand, and the uneven development of states, on the other. In that context, the author proposes a concept that considers the Great Indo-Pacific Area (BITA) as a megazone that determines the near future of world dynamics. Unlike other proposed constructs of late under consideration, BITA encompasses all coastal states. It is neither limited nor divided by various alliances or geostrategic designs of the leading powers. The evolving post-globalization process of regionalization does not contradict the formation of BITA but, on the contrary, according to the author, constitutes a factor that ensures its long-term sustainability. The state and significance of the Western (African) flank of the BITA has so far been out of the focus of research attention. The author fills this gap by analyzing the system-forming factors of the subregion, its potential, geostrategic significance and the regional maritime strategies of the leading powers in it.

Keywords

Africa, BITA, mega-region, Indian Ocean basin, Russia, maritime doctrine, strategic challenges, development potential

Acknowledgment

The article was prepared within the framework of the project “Post-Crisis World Order: Challenges and Technologies, Competition and Cooperation” under a grant from the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation for conducting major scientific projects in priority areas of scientific and technological development (Agreement № 075-15-2020-783).

Received

15.08.2022

Publication date

01.12.2022

Number of characters

29623

Cite

GOST	Fituni L. The African flank of the Great Indo-Pacific Areal: Strategic significance and associated challenges // Asia and Africa Today – 2022. – Issue 11 C. 5-12 [Electronic resource]. URL: https://asaf-today.ru/S032150750022930-5-1 (circulation date: 28.04.2024). DOI: 10.31857/S032150750022930-5
MLA	Fituni, Leonid L "The African flank of the Great Indo-Pacific Areal: Strategic significance and associated challenges." Asia and Africa Today 11 (2022):5-12. DOI: 10.31857/S032150750022930-5
APA	Fituni L. (2022). The African flank of the Great Indo-Pacific Areal: Strategic significance and associated challenges. Asia and Africa Today (11), pp.5-12 DOI: 10.31857/S032150750022930-5

100 rub.

When subscribing to an article or issue, the user can download PDF, evaluate the publication or contact the author. Need to register.

Number of purchasers: 0, views: 296

Readers community rating: votes 0

1. Fituni L.L., Abramova I.O. 2022. Developing Countries in the New Equation of the Post-Crisis World Order. World Economy and International Relations. № 11. Pp. 5-13. Moscow. (In Russ.)

2. Silantiev Yu.B., Kovaleva E.D., Penzin A.A. 2017. East African shelf. Assessment of the resource and production potential of gas and geological and political significance. Vesti gazovoy nauki. № 3. Pp. 187-194. Moscow (In Russ.). https://cyberleninka.ru/article/ n/vostochnoafrikanskiy-shelf-otsenka-resursno-dobychnogo-potentsiala-gaza-i-geologo-politicheskoy-znachimosti?ysclid=l8bkqs9mdo591335744 (accessed 20.04.2022)

3. Shotton R. 2005. B8. Western Indian Ocean. FAO Statistical Area 51. FAO fisheries technical paper. № 457. https://www.fao.org/ 3/y5852e/Y5852E06.htm#ch2.12 (accessed 20.04.2022).

4. Sharova A.Yu. 2019. The impact of sanctions on the economy of the world’s least developed countries (on the example of the DRC and Somalia). Journal of the Institute for African Studies, Russian Academy of Sciences. № 4 (49). Pp. 31-49. Moscow. (In Russ.)

5. Mezentsev S.V. 2017. Presidential elections in Somalia and the prospects for the fight against the terrorist group “Al-Shabaab”. Journal of the Institute for African Studies, Russian Academy of Sciences. № 1 (38). Pp. 132-139. (In Russ.)

6. Deich T.L., Usov V.A. 2019. Indian Ocean in the focus of attention of world powers. Asia and Africa today. № 10. Pp. 77-79. (In Russ.)

7. Elkina E.A. 2019. Piracy: more or less? Asia and Africa today. № 10. Pp. 36-40 (In Russ.). DOI: 10.31857/S032150750006524-8

8. Egede E. 2018. Maritime Security: Horn of Africa and Implementation of the 2050 AIM Strategy. Horn of Africa Bulletin, 30 (2). https://www.africaportal.org/features/maritime-security-implementing-aus-aim-strategy/ (accessed 19.04.2022)

9. Bhadrakumar M.K. 2021. US-Indian strategic construct of Western Indian Ocean runs into headwinds. https://indian-punchline.com/us-indian-strategic-construct-of-western-indian-ocean-runs-into-headwinds/ (accessed 29.08.2022)