Western countries still tend to view Africa as the periphery, says anthropologist Mayke Kaag. In her inaugural lecture, she calls for a shift in perspective: to see Africa as a mirror of global developments. For example, with the impact of the digital revolution.
The digital revolution is sweeping across Africa, says anthropologist Mayke Kaag. In an interview about her inaugural lecture, she explains how social media is empowering citizens to speak out and find allies in previously isolated regions. At the same time, information technology also strengthens state control - through biometric passports, for example, or by enabling governments to shut down the internet in times of political unrest.
Strongest story
Kaag's research focuses on trust and truth in African politics and governance. 'What shared truths remain in an era of manipulative AI?' she asks. 'The strong leader with the strongest story wins the most trust. Studying this offers valuable insights for global political trends', she says.
Another effect of colonialism is a widespread distrust of the state
Divide and rule
Due in part to colonial history, there are, of course, many differences between Western countries and African nations, as well as within Africa itself. One example is the enduring influence of 'clientelistic' networks, which originated during colonial times. Through the colonial powers' divide-and-rule strategy, limited power and resources were allocated to local African leaders. In return for votes and favours, citizens gained access to jobs and resources, a dependent relationship that persists today.
Distrust of the state
Another effect of colonialism, Kaag explains, is a widespread distrust of the state. Western countries often overlook this when, in a country such as Congo, they initiate UN peace processes mainly through the state. 'The state has never guaranteed people's safety, so it's logical that they place more trust in local leaders. This isn't because Africans are inherently different but because history has led them to rely on other strategies.'
One-sided media coverage
Kaag conducts research in Senegal and works with students and researchers in Ghana. She also closely follows African media from the Netherlands. 'Western media coverage of Africa is too limited and one-sided. It's nearly always alarmist and mostly focuses on wars and crises', she says.
She also tries to raise awareness about this one-sided coverage in courses for civil servants from the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs. 'I first show them clips of American and European news outlets depicting Africa as an object of concern. Then I show a Nigerian news programme discussing the impact on Africa in a very different, confident way.'
'Africa is a fully-fledged actor on the global stage'
Electricity
These global dynamics also play out in her new research on the politics of electricity access in West Africa and the transition to alternative forms of energy, such as solar power. Kaag is conducting this research with a Dutch research team and colleagues in Africa. 'We're exploring the political and economic dimensions of the energy transition. East and Southern Africa are ahead of West Africa in solar energy. For African politicians, electricity access is an important way of saying to the electorate: "We're doing well, so vote for us."'
Foreign interest
The research team is also examining foreign interest in Africa's energy markets. China, Russia, the US and Europe are all sizing up opportunities to invest in this growing market. 'I also want to show in this research that African actors are not just reacting to global dynamics but also want to actively shape them, says Kaag. 'Africa is a fully-fledged actor on the global stage.'
