Qobo, Mzukisi. “The Liberal Internationalist Order and Its Discontents.” In The Political Economy of China—US Relations, pp. 3-28. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham, 2022.
Abstract
This chapter discusses the evolution of the Liberal Internationalist order at the end of World War Two. It makes a case that the liberal internationalist order that emerged was not kind to the plight of African countries. Even in the postcolonial aftermath, major powers showed less interest in facilitating Africa’s beneficial integration into the global system. America’s normative dissonance comes under a sharp spotlight in this chapter. America’s claim to global leadership on the basis of liberal values is stridently questioned. Further the chapter sets outlines for shaping Africa’s agency in the global system.
