The changing context of african foreign policies

It has been four decades since Ghana became the first sub-Saharan African (SSA) state to gain formal independence from colonial rule. There was at this time tremendous anticipation of the role to be played by African states, both within and outside Africa, but during the 1970s and 1980s optimism gave way to pessimism. African states were relegated to peripheral players in the global system and were not particularly constructive in their intra-African relationships. For many, this remains the predominant perception of the continent; however, this volume will show that the late 1990s also offer new challenges and opportunities for African states to reorient their policies in positive and constructive ways.