Moroccan Author Presents "African Vision" for the New World in Lisbon
Translated from Arabic, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.
At a glance
- Moroccan author Idriss El Kraoui presented his new book, "Understanding the New World: An African Vision," in Lisbon.
- The book analyzes contemporary global transformations from an African perspective, focusing on geopolitical shifts, rising risks, and technological changes.
- El Kraoui proposes that Africa can be a "horizon of human hope" by leveraging its intangible capital and collective intelligence.
Hespress is pleased to report on the intellectual engagement taking place in Lisbon, where Moroccan author Idriss El Kraoui unveiled his significant new work, "Understanding the New World: An African Vision." This academic gathering at the Portuguese Catholic University provided a platform for a crucial dialogue, bringing together scholars and policymakers from Portugal and various African nations to dissect the complex challenges of our era through a distinctly African lens.
El Kraoui's analysis, rooted in economic intelligence and strategic foresight, offers a powerful counter-narrative to prevailing Western perspectives on global affairs. He critically examines the "time of extremism," the "time of rupture," and the "time of instability" that characterize the current international landscape. His work challenges the dominance of technological giants and imperial powers, warning against the "economic chaos" and ethical void they foster. This perspective is vital, as it moves beyond a purely Eurocentric or American-centric view of global power dynamics, emphasizing the agency and potential of the African continent.
What makes El Kraoui's vision particularly compelling from a Moroccan and African standpoint is its focus on Africa not just as a subject of analysis, but as a source of solutions. He posits Africa as a "horizon of human hope," a laboratory for major transformations, particularly through the activation of the Continental Free Trade Area and the assertion of economic sovereignty. This optimistic yet grounded outlook, drawing on African values like "Ubuntu"โwhich places human solidarity at the core of developmentโcontrasts sharply with the often-pessimistic narratives about the continent. El Kraoui's call for a new value system, emphasizing human dignity, intercultural dialogue, and the rejection of racism and extremism, resonates deeply within a region seeking to define its own future on its own terms, independent of external dictates.
Originally published by Hespress in Arabic. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.