The Institute of International Politics and Economics (IIPE), Belgrade hosted the promotion of a monograph by Dr. Danilo Babić titled Political Thought in Sub-Saharan Africa: From Liberation to the Present. The monograph offers a comprehensive overview of the development of African political thought, from the era of decolonization to contemporary political processes across the continent.
The author systematically traces the evolution of political thought through several key currents: Pan-Africanism, African socialism, national liberation movements, and contemporary democratic and authoritarian tendencies. Particular attention is given to the intellectual legacy of major African thinkers such as Kwame Nkrumah, Léopold Sédar Senghor, and Frantz Fanon, whose ideas continue to shape political discourse across the continent.
In addition to the author, the event featured remarks from the book’s reviewers: Dr. Žaklina Novičić, Research Fellow at the Institute of International Politics and Economics, and Dr. Stevan Gajić, Research Fellow at the Institute of European Studies (IES).
Dr. Novičić highlighted the decolonization of consciousness as a central concept of the monograph and a key to understanding political developments in the region. She noted that African political thought did not emerge in a vacuum, but was shaped by challenging circumstances such as terrorism, military coups, authoritarian regimes, and adverse economic conditions. In this context, she emphasized the importance of thinkers such as Frantz Fanon, whose work The Wretched of the Earth (French: Les Damnés de la Terre) laid the foundations of postcolonial political thought, as well as Steve Biko and the Black Consciousness Movement (BCM) in South Africa.
Dr. Gajić drew attention to the connections between African thinkers and intellectuals from North America and the Caribbean, underscoring the breadth and depth of African thought. He placed particular emphasis on the significance of transatlantic intellectual exchange, noting the influence of the Harlem Renaissance and figures such as W.E.B. Du Bois and Marcus Garvey on the formation of Pan-African political consciousness. He also observed that African political thought was shaped by a distinctive synthesis of socialism and nationalism which, unlike its European counterparts, did not produce destructive outcomes in the African context, but instead served as an ideological instrument in the struggle for independence and state-building.
The discussion that followed drew both academic and professional audiences. It was noted that Dr. Babić’s study fills a significant gap in domestic political science literature by approaching African political thought outside the usual stereotypes, and by highlighting its historical depth, ideological diversity, and relevance to contemporary international relations. In that context, attention was drawn to the unique historical legacy of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia in its relations with Africa, and consequently to the role of Serbia as one of its successor states. As an illustrative example, participants referred to the founding of the Museum of African Art in Belgrade, an institution distinguished by the fact that it emerged outside a colonial framework and without the colonial narrative that shaped similar institutions in the West. The museum stands to this day as a testament to the distinctive character of Yugoslav Africa policy, grounded in the principles of non-alignment, solidarity, and equality. The discussion also raised the question of Serbia’s current diplomatic presence in Africa. Given that a continent of over fifty countries and growing geopolitical significance is one where Serbia holds considerable historical credibility, participants pointed to the potential for further strengthening political, economic, and cultural relations.
Dr. Babić’s monograph is therefore a valuable contribution not only to African and postcolonial studies, but also to the broader understanding of global political processes. In the domestic context, it may also serve as an impetus for rethinking the future direction of Serbian foreign policy toward the African continent.
