The End of the 20th Century Order and Africa's Growth Strategy
KIM Heungchong (Korea University)
Distinguished Chair, Honorable Participants,
It is my great honor to speak today on the theme, “The End of the 20th Century Order and Africa’s Growth Strategy.” This presentation is not merely about the chronological closure of a century, but rather begins with a fundamental question: How can Africa envision and design its future amidst a transforming global order?
1. Why Do I Speak of the End of the 20th Century Order?
The end of the 20th century signifies more than the passing of time—it represents the dissolution of a specific political, economic, and ideological order. I view the essential framework of the 20th century as having been completed in the aftermath of the Great Depression and solidified in the post–World War II period under a U.S.-led global system. While the Cold War brought a temporary bipolar structure, the collapse of the communist bloc in 1990 affirmed the dominance of a Western-led world order, which we may reasonably define as the “20th century order.”
This order was characterized by a rules-based liberal international system. It rested on institutions such as the United Nations, the IMF, and the GATT/WTO. Although global free trade was never fully realized, it remained the ideal. Disputes were expected to be resolved through multilateralism, particularly within the UN framework. The international monetary and financial systems were anchored in the U.S. dollar, and the American trade deficit functioned as the foundation for a stable and expanding global market—an arrangement widely accepted.
However, under the second Trump administration, we are witnessing the fundamental unraveling of this worldview. The 20th century order is crumbling before our eyes.
Its demise, I argue, began with the 2008 global financial crisis. Over the past 17 years of upheaval and struggle, the order has now fully exhausted its historical vitality. The United States, under the Trump administration, is actively dismantling the very system it once created, boldly moving toward a new order. Multilateralism is being rejected, and U.S. trade deficits are now interpreted as having been the result of deception or exploitation by trading partners—especially allies. Protectionism and short-term economic nationalism now reign, with the United States at the center.
The global economy is transitioning into a multipolar system that is flexible yet fraught with deep uncertainty. Africa, in this transition, remains entangled in the legacies of colonialism, economic dependency, and externally imposed development models.
Since the 1990s, globalization and neoliberalism have offered new opportunities but have also entrenched structural inequality between nations and limited Africa’s policy autonomy. The rise of China, armed with formidable economic power, technological capabilities, and a distinct development model, presents a profound new challenge to African states. The end of the 20th century order thus compels Africa to urgently search for a new growth strategy.
2. Africa’s Structural Challenges
As the old order collapses, Africa is confronted with both long-standing and newly emerging structural constraints.
First, borders and political structures imposed during colonial rule continue to obstruct social cohesion and stable state-building. Civil conflicts, regional disputes, and refugee crises remain unresolved.
Second, Africa’s continued dependence on commodity exports and its low share of manufacturing have relegated many countries to the bottom of global value chains. Moreover, the rise of China—with its unique economic structure capable of producing everything from paper cups to the most advanced technologies—renders traditional, wage-based export-led development strategies increasingly untenable.
Third, the United States' turn toward protectionism has narrowed market access, shaking the foundations of Africa’s traditional growth targets.
Fourth, international development cooperation often treats Africa merely as a recipient, making autonomous strategy formation difficult.
Finally, climate change, rapid digital transformation, and the explosive growth of the youth population present a complex array of new challenges across all sectors.
3. Toward a New Growth Strategy for Africa
We must now break from outdated approaches and conceive a new strategic vision. I would like to propose five key directions.
First, regional integration must be strengthened.
The legacy of colonialism and subsequent difficulties have hindered the formation of coherent national identities. Rather than reinforcing national identity, the solution may lie in transcending it—creating supranational economic units through deeper regional integration. Such integration can provide a path to peace and prosperity by overcoming conflict and fragmentation. In this context, the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) presents a critical opportunity—not merely for market integration but for building industrial clusters and shared value chains. Strengthening intra-African trade and industrial linkages will increase resilience against external shocks.
Second, we need a new model of industrialization—Industrialization 2.0.
I have witnessed markets across Africa overflowing with goods from China and Southeast Asia. Through rapid technological adoption, efficient logistics, and agile labor reskilling, African industries must strive to compete—at least in select sectors—against these dominant players.
Rather than following stepwise industrialization, Africa should leapfrog into a digital and green future. Just as mobile phones skipped over the landline era, so too can African economies bypass internal combustion engine manufacturing and move directly into electric, hybrid, or hydrogen vehicles. Kenya’s M-Pesa mobile banking system and Rwanda’s drone-based logistics are examples of innovation through advanced technologies. Smart agriculture, renewable energy, and fin-tech must become core engines of African industrial growth.
Third, we must ask how sustainable market creation is possible without relying on the United States.
GDP rankings often mislead us. If we set the U.S. nominal GDP at 100, China and the EU each hover slightly above 60. However, when measuring final consumption—the true driver of demand and thus economic growth—China is only one-third of the U.S. market and about 56% the size of the EU. Thus, U.S. and European markets remain crucial.
Yet the U.S. market is closing its doors. While we strive to minimize the impacts of American tariffs, we must also seriously contemplate a world without the United States. Can we, together, create sustainable and inclusive markets that foster shared prosperity?
Fourth, development cooperation must evolve into a model of technological co-innovation.
We must move beyond the traditional donor-recipient paradigm. True partnerships involve co-designing and co-sharing technologies and knowledge. Countries like Korea, India, and Brazil can serve as critical partners in this endeavor, enabling Africa to retain strategic autonomy and leadership.
Fifth, a youth-centered strategy is essential.
Over 60% of Africa’s population is under 25. This is not only a challenge—it is a unique and powerful opportunity that no other continent enjoys. When I first set foot in Africa in 2001, most of today’s African population had not yet been born or were just children. Africa’s face has changed.
We must invest in the youth by providing targeted education, support for startups, and jobs through digital platforms. In doing so, we can harness the dynamism and creativity that will shape the future of the continent.
4. Who Will Design Africa’s Future?
The end of the 20th century order marks the beginning of the end of dependency. The 21st century must be an era of connection and solidarity—and Africa stands poised to become a central pillar of the Global South.
Africa’s resources, its population, and its creativity are vast sources of potential. But this potential cannot be realized through imitation of the past. It must be built upon imagination and solidarity arising from within.
Now, it is time to ask the essential question: “Who will design Africa’s growth strategy?”
No longer should strategies be imposed from the outside. Africa’s future must be designed through its own vision, agency, and political will.
We are ready to walk alongside you.
Thank you.
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