Algerian Journal of Human and Social Sciences
Volume 10, Numéro 1, Pages 401-413
2026-06-11
The Geopolitical Projection Of Cameroon In The 21st Century: A Myth Between Institutional Weaknesses An The Absence Of International Public Policy
Authors : Techa Djoumessi Franck Jiresert .
Abstract
. This article examines the geopolitical projection of Cameroon in the twenty-first century, arguing that it remains largely a performative myth shaped by institutional fragility and the absence of a coherent foreign policy. Drawing on a combined constructivist–neorealist framework, the analysis asks: to what extent does Cameroon’s claimed geopolitical projection constitute a functional foreign policy posture, or does it amount to a discursive exercise disconnected from material capabilities? The article shows that governance deficits including the concentration of executive authority, endemic corruption (Cameroon ranked 140th out of 180 countries on the 2023 Transparency International Corruption Perceptions Index), administrative fragmentation, and a crisis of political legitimacy prevent the state from formulating and sustaining a coherent external strategy. Unlike Nigeria, which has institutionalized its continental influence through ECOWAS leadership and peacekeeping missions, or South Africa, whose BRICS membership and AU Commission presence give it durable multilateral leverage, Cameroon relies primarily on symbolic gestures and one-off diplomatic events with limited strategic follow-through. The article also examines the role of non-state actors’ civil society, diaspora networks, and corporations alongside the constraints imposed by external partners such as France, China, and multilateral institutions. It concludes that without institutional reform and a structured foreign policy integrating security, development, and economic diplomacy, Cameroon will remain a reactive actor rather than a shaper of regional dynamics.
Keywords
Cameroon, geopolitical projection, governance, economic diplomacy, institutions, foreign policy, international partnerships, constructivism, neorealism.
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