GUEST EDITOR'S NOTE.

• Author: Conteh-Morgan, Earl
• Position: Editorial

Africa has often been the focus of contradictory attention that has oscillated between the labels of a physical obstacle to travel between Europe and the East, a geostrategic continent, a collection of failed or failing states, to now a geo-economically important continent with potentially viable markets because of its many and rapidly growing economies endowed with strategic minerals. With the dawn of the 21 st century and the reality of strategic rivalry between the United States and China, coupled with the global involvement of middle and emerging powers in particular Russia, Japan, Turkey, Iran, and India many issues are coming to the fore. Africa is now experiencing a new "scramble" for its strategic minerals, the buying power of its growing middle class, its significant choke points, its diplomatic importance and growing influence in international organizations, among others. This does not mean that the great potential of African states along with their promises do not lack challenges. In fact there are perennial challenges such as existential insecurities in food, health, and political rivalries which generate refugees and migration. The continent contains states that are confronted by violent extremism and terrorism; many are still plagued by bad governance, the structural violence of corrupt institutions that generate relative economic deprivation and the insecurity that comes with the abundance of small arms or light weapons, among many other problems.

This special issue on Africa and the great, middle, and emerging powers is focused on underscoring both the promises and challenges that come with the continents interactions with the U.S., China, India, Iran, and Russia. It also includes analyses of topics like migration, China in Africa, implications of the U.S. and Chinese presence on the continent, and the roles of India and China in commercial transactions. It is comprised of both articles and commentaries on various topics involving external powers and their differing policy postures aimed at: (i) promoting their geostrategic and economic interests; (ii) containing radical Jihadism and other forms of violence that could harm their commercial interests; and (iii) forging closer military, economic, and diplomatic ties with African states.

While the prospects for Africa seem to be growing brighter, the continent is also plagued by the "push" and "pull" of migration as the most marginalized are making the perilous journey to...