The introductory paper, by guest editors Steven Gruzd, Samuel Ramani and Cayley Clifford, provides an overview of the excellent array of articles found in this special issue. Allard Duursma and Niklas Masuhr provide a contextual understanding of Russia’s history in Africa, while Ovigwe Eguegu focuses on Russia’s private military involvement on the continent. Bhaso Ndzendze and Zimkhitha Manyana explore Russian arms trade in southern Africa and Francesco Generoso looks at Russian interests in the Red Sea region of the Horn of Africa. The other articles similarly explore Russia’s activities from historical, regional, and strategic perspectives. This special issue includes five book reviews, including a pre-publication review by Joseph Siegle of Samuel Ramani’s forthcoming book, Russia in Africa: Resurgent Great Power or Bellicose Pretender?
Contents
Introduction to the special issue: Russia in Africa: Who is courting whom?
Steven Gruzd, Samuel Ramani & Cayley Clifford
Russia’s return to Africa in a historical and global context: Anti-imperialism, patronage, and opportunism
Allard Duursma & Niklas Masuhr
Perceptions of Russia’s ‘return’ to Africa: Views from West Africa
Leonid Issaev, Alisa Shishkina & Yakov Liokumovich
Russia’s private military diplomacy in Africa: High risk, low reward, limited impact
Ovigwe Eguegu
The quest for influence: Examining Russia’s public diplomacy mechanisms in Africa
Isaac Antwi-Boasiako
A differentiated courtship: A regime-type analysis of Russia’s Southern African (arms) trade, 2012–2019
Bhaso Ndzendze & Zimkhitha Manyana
Manifestations of Russian formal and informal strategies in Southern and Eastern Africa, 2000–2022
Dzvinka Kachur
Russia in the Horn of Africa: Re-engagement in a new strategic environment
Jithin Mathew & John S Moolakkattu
Russian interests in the Horn of Africa: A Red Sea foothold?
Francesco Generoso
Book Reviews
Russia in Africa: Resurgent Great Power or Bellicose Pretender? By Samuel Ramani
Reviewed by Joseph Siegle
Russia Resurrected: Its Power and Purpose in a New Global Order by Kathryn E. Stoner
Reviewed by Maxim Matusevich
Russia’s Corporate Soldiers: The Global Expansion of Russia’s Private Military Companies by Seth G. Jones, Catrina Doxee, Brian Katz, Eric Mcqueen and Joe Moye
Reviewed by Karen Philippa Larsen
Nuclear: Inside South Africa’s Secret Deal by Karyn Maughan and Kirsten Pearson
Reviewed by Isabel Bosman
Russia Rising: Putin’s Foreign Policy in the Middle East and North Africa edited by Dimitar Bechev, Nicu Popescu and Stanislav Secrieru
Reviewed by Youssef Cherif
