Intro to Exploiting Africa: How China and Europe Hunt for Raw Materials

Africa is rich in natural resources, making it a critical player in the global energy transition. Yet, the continent struggles under the weight of historical exploitation, geopolitical competition, and complex power dynamics. The race for Africa's raw materials—driven by nations like China and Europe seeking to fuel clean energy technologies—is reshaping the political and economic landscape. This global hunt for key resources like cobalt, coltan, and lithium comes with profound ethical challenges. Local communities face environmental destruction, health risks, and economic inequities, while promises of development often remain unfulfilled. Understanding the forces at play is essential to ensuring a more equitable and sustainable path forward.

What Will You Learn?

This course takes a deep dive into the intersection of geopolitics, economics, and the environment. After completing this lesson, you will:

• Grasp how China and Europe have approached resource extraction in Africa and the strategies shaping their influence.
• Explore the environmental and social consequences of raw material mining on African communities and ecosystems.
• Analyze the broader implications of global competition for Africa’s resources, including its role in the clean energy revolution.
• Recognize how these dynamics contribute to economic and political inequalities, both locally and globally.

These insights will equip you with a nuanced understanding of the systematic issues underlying the world’s shift to clean energy and the human cost of resource extraction.

How to Approach This Course

To fully engage with this course, approach the topic with an open mind and a critical perspective on the shifting global power dynamics. During the video, focus on the examples of resource extraction operations, the key players involved, and their respective impacts on African nations.

Take notes on recurring themes such as exploitative practices, the promises versus realities of economic benefits, and the challenges of balancing sustainability with industrial demands. Reflect on how these issues connect to global efforts to achieve a greener future.

Pay attention to the geopolitical relationships, the specific resources discussed, and their local and global implications. Then take a short quiz after the video to test your understanding of these critical insights.