Abstract

This paper is premised on the assertion that systematically processed information—big data—is a source of power. When professionally analyzed, such data empowers state actors to make informed, strategic decisions that align with and reinforce the core of their sovereignty, particularly their national security strategies. Furthermore, it allows them to anticipate the decisions and actions of other states.

This study examines competitive intelligence as a strategic instrument within the broader toolbox of diplomacy and international relations, capable of enhancing the sovereignty of African states. The core argument is that, through the strategic use of analyzed information, African states can take advantage of the seismic shifts in global affairs and navigate the evolving geopolitical landscape to make diplomatic moves that assert their full sovereignty.

Our objective is to demonstrate that African states, through the systematic application of competitive intelligence, must respond to the emerging global need for a new world order—one that allows each state to exercise sovereignty without undue influence or coercion from former colonial powers, dominant nations, or global organizations. The justification for this strategic posture stems from the present turmoil within global political, economic, and financial systems—largely dominated by the West—coinciding with a multifaceted global crisis occurring in an era of instantaneous and widespread communication.

Using both primary and secondary data and employing qualitative and quantitative methods, this paper adopts a multi-disciplinary approach. It draws on expertise from World History, Political Sociology, Peace and Conflict Studies, Political Science, Diplomacy and International Relations, and Data Science. Through this lens, we identify patterns and trends in African states’ decision-making regarding the assertion of sovereignty, aiming to achieve a competitive advantage in a world still influenced by Western hegemony.

Applying concepts from Game Theory, this paper argues that African states must develop and deploy competitive intelligence to strategically navigate the complexities of international relations. Doing so will enable them to anticipate global shifts, mitigate external threats to sovereignty, and engage more competitively on the world stage.

Over sixty years after gaining independence, and more than three decades since the fall of the Berlin Wall, African states are experiencing a paradigm shift. This shift reflects a renewed focus on how they exercise sovereignty in global affairs. The analysis reveals five major pathways through which collective intelligence has shaped this renewed posturing:

1. The creation of regional blocs such as ECOWAS, AMU, ECCAS, SADC, CEN-SAD, and CEMAC.
2. Advocacy for a common African currency.
3. Establishment of frameworks for free and cross-border trade.
4. The African Union’s confrontation with the ICC and the subsequent push for an African Criminal Court.
5. Development of security and international regimes aligned with national security strategies.

Simultaneously, the architects of a new global order emphasize the respect of sovereignty by forming regional blocs based on shared histories, strategic military interests, and politico-economic agendas, informed by systematically analyzed strategic data. Examples include:

• ASEAN – Association of Southeast Asian Nations (10 states)
• UNASUR – Union of South American Nations (est. 2008)
• AU – African Union (55 member states, successor to the OAU, established in 1999)
• SAARC – South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation
• PIC – Pacific Island Community
• EU – European Union (Treaty of Rome, 1958; Lisbon Treaty, 2009)
• USMCA – Successor to NAFTA, est. 2020
• GCC – Gulf Cooperation Council (est. 1981)
• AL – Arab League (est. 1945)
• EAEU – Eurasian Economic Union

To remain competitive and sovereign in this evolving landscape, African states must:

• Track strategic and policy innovations of other states;
• Analyze socio-economic and geopolitical trends;
• Monitor global financial systems, communication strategies, and power alignments to make informed, proactive decisions.

The central theme of this paper is the role of collective intelligence in the assertion of African sovereignty in the post-Cold War context. This discussion allows a deeper understanding of how the principles of state sovereignty, legal equality, and non-intervention interact with the realities of international law and global institutions.

In exploring the post-Cold War World Order as a new frontier in international diplomacy, the paper revisits historical models such as the Westphalian order and critiques the persistence of hegemonic dominance. It highlights how old alliance systems and emerging centers of power (e.g., the AU, ASEAN, UNASUR, SAARC) have contributed to global instability manifesting in terrorism and transnational conflicts.

By analyzing the balance of power from the Cold War to the current multipolar reality—especially in light of recent developments like the Russia-Ukraine conflict since 2022—the paper emphasizes the need for a multi-disciplinary evaluation of global politics. From a power perspective, collective intelligence enables African states to better understand the geo-historical, economic, socio-cultural, and political dimensions of global power, ultimately informing their security and development strategies.

In conclusion, the evolution of a new world order—marked by a shift from bipolar and unipolar systems to renewed Pan-Africanism—requires African states to fully harness competitive intelligence. This will allow them to reassert their sovereignty, safeguard national interests, and contribute meaningfully to the shaping of global governance.

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