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Economic leadership that was long concentrated in the West has decisively shifted towards emerging economies, whereby this historic global shift in trade and power is redefining Africa’s role in the world economy, says a new book ‘West to East: A New Global Economy in the Making’.
Its author, economist Arno van Niekerk, described in a recent article in The Conversation how economic leadership has steadily moved from West to East, with BRICS+ nations — led by China and India — overtaking the G7 in global GDP share since 2018. BRICS+ also captured 28% of global exports in 2024, narrowing the gap with the G7’s 32%. This shift, says van Niekerk, is more than economic; it’s geopolitical. Technological dominance, foreign investment, and consumer power are increasingly centered in Asia. For Africa, this transformation is both an opportunity and a challenge.
A 2024 Policy Center for the New South report confirms this trend, noting that African and Middle Eastern nations are pivoting from traditional political alliances toward geo-economic strategies focused on trade, infrastructure, and self-reliance. This new pragmatism empowers African states to negotiate with both Eastern and Western powers on more equal terms. Meanwhile, the Journal of African Interdisciplinary Studies warns that African leaders must act strategically and with foresight to avoid exploitation and ensure sustainable development. The article also urges investment in human capital and digital infrastructure to avoid becoming merely a raw-material supplier in this new order.
With BRICS+ membership, growing South-South partnerships, and intensifying US-China rivalry, Africa stands at a critical junction. Experts stress that the decisions Africa makes now — on alliances, innovation, and inclusion — will shape its place in the emerging multipolar world.
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