Sustainability, Emerging Technologies, and Pan-Africanism

This book examines the historical antecedents of Pan-Africanism as a driving force of African Unity, carefully studying its major contributors, current institutional status, and potential future growth. It analyzes the facilitative role of emerging technologies, such as high performance computing, telecommunications, and satellite remote sensing in enabling African sustainable development. Finally, the authors discuss possible ways that the vision of Pan-Africanism can be used today in Africa’s efforts towards unity and sustainable development.

“This is an extraordinarily pertinent, well-informed, and instructive work  by  well  trained and relevantly experienced authors.  It makes important contributions in both retrospective and forward looking consideration of the myriad issues, conceptions, challenges and opportunities embodied in  Pan-Africanist ideas and movements.  The authors are grounded in the history, cultures, and realities throughout the African continent, and also are richly trained in the technical dimensions of the most relevant emergent technologies around the world today. Both sets of  factors  will likely shape and reward Africans’ capacity and opportunity to unite their myriad cultures, peoples and states behind joint efforts  to harness  the new technologies for sustainable enhancement of living conditions and opportunities of the peoples not only on the African Continent, but, indeed, of people of African descent throughout the world.” (Willard R. Johnson, Professor Emeritus of Political Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), USA)

“Given the current political and socio-economic developments in Africa that include ongoing economic integration through the new African Continental Free Trade (ACFT), this book titled “Sustainability, Emerging Technologies, and Pan-Africanism” is a timely contribution to the search for an appropriate platform on which to position and link Africa’s sustainable development to the age-old Pan-African movement. The book presents an in depth study of the original Pan-African Congresses and presents the results as a blueprint for understanding the aims and objectives of the movement in pursuing global unity and emancipation of African peoples based on a clear understanding of the commonality of fate and destiny of all Africans at home or in the Diaspora. The book adopts a scientific analytical approach to link Pan-Africanism to Africa’s sustainable development goals, and lays out a vision and pathway for Africa’s unity and economic integration. I consider it a must-read volume for all those who wish a better understanding of Africa, her strengths, challenges, opportunities, and the future.” (Nosa O. Egiebor, Professor of Chemical & Environmental Engineering, Dept. of Environmental Resources Engineering and Former Provost and Executive Vice President, State University of New York, USA)

“To understand the richness of Pan-Africanism is to fully embrace its burgeoning sphere of influence dominated by the myriad of cultures it represents.  Such influence cannot be hindered or dashed; for it is integrated throughout the very essence of what society deems worthy of the term “advancement”.  Thiam and Rochon do an excellent job of masterfully merging the proud cultural past of Pan-Africanism with an ever-resourceful present and its revealing, if not prophetic, future.” (William C. McCoy, Director of Pan African Studies and Director of the Rutland Institute for Ethics, Clemson University, USA)

Thierno Thiam is Associate Professor of Political Science and Chair of the Department of History and Political Science at Tuskegee University, USA. His academic and professional career spans across several major universities and institutions, including the University of Dakar, Howard University, the University of Maryland, Purdue University, and the Institute for State Effectiveness, Washington, D.C., USA.

Gilbert Rochon is Adjunct Professor at the Department of Global Health Management and Policy, Tulane University, USA. He is also Co-Chair-Higher Ed. Initiative-African Renaissance and Diaspora Network (ARDN), Research Scientist at Xavier University of Louisiana, Senior Consultant at MSF Global Solutions, LLC., and formerly the 6th President of Tuskegee University, USA.