Description
Book SynopsisBalancing Sovereignty and Development in International Affairs is about Cameroon, a minor power in world affairs, and her foreign policy and international relations, especially as she deals with major powers, in this case, France. It emphasizes Cameroon's economic and political relations with France, her relations with Francophone Africa, Anglophone Nigeria during the Nigerian Civil War of 19671970, the hot button issues of African liberation, and the development challenges that she faced.The study probes the nature, scope, depth, dynamics, and drivers of Cameroon's foreign policy to understand its logic, and to uncover the consequences to the country''s development and sovereignty. It also investigates and sheds light on some conventional views about Cameroon's relations with Francethe view that Cameroon is a French puppet. The above questions are investigated within the theoretical framework of dominant-dependent- compliant behavior in world politics. Put differently, as a minor part
Trade ReviewSkillfully weaving the history of bilateral commercial, economic, and diplomatic interactions between Cameroon and France, Tesi highlights the inherent tensions between the question for sovereignty and the imperative for development. The book contributes to the understudied and undertheorized relationship between a "minor state" and a dominant state using a transactional framework. -- Karen A. Mingst, University of Kentucky
Moses Tesi offers a rigorous, original and superb analysis of post-colonial France-Cameroon relations that embodies many typical political-economic and cultural interactions between a former colonial power (France) and its former colony (Cameroon). The issues that comprise the substance of their bilateral interactions are clearly presented as the product of their evolving mutual interests immediately following Cameroon’s independence. The analysis contributes academically original and mature insight within a framework of dynamism in their relationship and not the often static analysis of core-periphery, north-south, or developed-developing country approaches. This is a timely and thorough analysis that develops a more reliable way of assessing political, economic, and policy relationships between great powers and small powers. It could serve as a model for the examination of other cases of north-south interactions. It is an excellent addition to all France-Africa resource collection. Even a cursory examination of the book will reveal its dynamic analytical structure, as well as the personal acquaintance of the writer with the subject matter. -- Earl Conteh-Morgan, Professor of International Studies, University of South Florida
Professor Tesi has written an important book. It is much more than a narrative on the creation and execution of Cameroon’s foreign policy. In addition to placing events within their proper historical context, the book delves into the nation’s many flashpoints such as identity politics, Francophone, Anglophone, rural-urban conflict, and corruption. The book is a timely and significant addition to Cameroonian and African studies. -- Julius Amin, University of Dayton
Table of ContentsPart I Chapter 1: Introduction Chapter 2: Historical Context Chapter 3: The Domestic Context, Principles and Strategy Chapter 4: Economic Relations with France Part II Chapter 5: Cameroon, France and the Nigerian Civil War 1967–1970 Chapter 6: OCAM and the Air Afrique Crisis Chapter 7: CAM AIR, CICAM, CIMENCAM, and African Liberation Chapter 8: Conclusion About the Author
