"Who has earned Africa’s brotherhood, friendship, and loyalty?" asks Wandile Msomi, a researcher and author of Splendid Isolation.

In this episode, Zahid Jadwat speaks to Msomi about some of the big ideas in his book: the Cold War, BRICS, NATO, leadership in Africa and, ultimately, the continent's position in this complex world.

Timestamps:

00:45 What was the inspiration behind Splendid Isolation?
05:55 Why the Cold War as a starting point for a book on Africa?
08:50 The consequences of the transition from a British-led world order to a US-led one
11:04 What are the competing forces about?
14:50 Is BRICS a second coming of the Warsaw Pact?
18:08 Replacing one master for another
27:37 Growth is a policy choice
35:21 Does US foreign policy ever change?