The Curse of Berlin: Africa After the Cold War by Adekeye Adebajo

The Curse of Berlin by Adekeye Adebajo is a wide-ranging study of Africa’s political and international position in the decades following the Cold War. Published by University of KwaZulu-Natal Press in 2010, this substantial work examines how the legacy of European colonial partition continues to influence African politics, security, diplomacy and international relations. The UKZN Press edition was published alongside editions from Hurst & Company in London and Columbia University Press in New York.

The central argument of The Curse of Berlin reaches back to the 1884–85 Berlin Conference, when European powers established the framework for the partition and colonisation of Africa. Adebajo uses this historical legacy as a recurring theme while concentrating primarily on Africa’s development and international relationships after the Cold War. The book therefore connects nineteenth-century imperialism with much more recent questions of sovereignty, regional security and global power.

The book is organised around three major themes: Africa’s quest for security, its quest for hegemony and its quest for unity. Adebajo considers institutions including the African Union, regional security organisations and the United Nations, as well as the roles played by Boutros Boutros-Ghali and Kofi Annan. He then examines the influence of major powers and regional powers including South Africa, Nigeria, the United States, China and France.

The final section broadens the discussion through portraits and analyses involving figures such as Nelson Mandela, Thabo Mbeki, Kwame Nkrumah, Cecil Rhodes, Barack Obama and Mahatma Gandhi. This allows Adebajo to explore competing visions of African leadership, unity and the continent’s relationship with the wider world.

Adebajo is a prominent scholar of African international relations whose work encompasses African foreign policy, conflict resolution, international institutions and relations between Africa and external powers. The Curse of Berlin is consequently both historically grounded and concerned with contemporary African geopolitics.

For readers interested in African history, post-colonial politics, international relations and South Africa’s role on the continent, The Curse of Berlin provides a substantial and thought-provoking examination of the forces shaping modern Africa. Its UKZN Press edition is particularly relevant to readers building collections focused on African political scholarship and contemporary South African publishing.

Condition: Very Good – Ex library stamps on front end page.