This book analyses the rapidly increasing role of African states, leaders and other political actors in international politics in the 21st Century.In contrast to the conventional approach of studying how external actors impacted on Africa's international relations, this book seeks to open up a new approach, focusing on the impact of African political actors on international politics. It does this by analysing African agency - the degree to which African political actors have room to manoeuvre within the international system and exert influence internationally, and the uses the