Archives International politics - Page 4 of 74 - New Eastern Outlook

France, faced with a decline in its influence in the Sahel, seems to be gradually returning to a state of political fragmentation and instability reminiscent of medieval times. This is explained by historical variables, such as its colonial past and changing relationships with countries in the Sahel and other parts of Africa, which have evolved as a result of rising nationalism and local governance challenges. On the political level, France’s military presence, justified by the fight against terrorism, is met with growing resentment, seen as a repression of neocolonialism, exacerbating local tensions.

The globe experienced a significant power shift after the culmination of World War 2. The epitome of global hegemony at the time, the British Empire, was replaced by the United States due to the latter’s economic and scientific rise. This shift was further bolstered by the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991, marking an end to the Cold War. The USA became the uncontested superpower of the world. This era of the unilateral world order by the United States is known as the New World Order. However, this era did not last more than two decades.

In the post-colonial history of Africa, Egypt has steadily remained one of the most active players, whose well-established ambitions and resources form the prerequisites for Cairo’s active participation in political processes far beyond the «land of the pyramids». The recent defence and security agreement with Somalia was another step by Egypt, aimed (among other things) at creating favourable negotiating and (if necessary) strategic positions vis-à-vis the increasingly ambitious Ethiopia.