This study
examines the relationship between economic nationalism and foreign investment
in postcolonial Africa, analysing how African governments have sought to
balance national economic sovereignty with the need for external capital,
technology, and expertise. Since independence, many African states have adopted
varying forms of economic nationalism, including the nationalisation of
strategic industries, local content policies, indigenisation programmes, and
stricter regulatory frameworks aimed at protecting domestic interests. While
these measures have strengthened state control over key economic sectors and
promoted indigenous participation, they have also generated mixed outcomes for
foreign investors due to policy uncertainty, institutional weaknesses, and
governance challenges. Using a historical and analytical approach based on
secondary sources, this study explores the evolution of economic nationalism
from the post-independence era to the contemporary period, highlighting its
implications for investment inflows, economic growth, and sustainable
development. The paper argues that effective economic nationalism should not
discourage foreign investment but rather establish transparent and predictable
policies that align foreign capital with national development priorities. It
concludes that a balanced framework combining investor confidence,
institutional accountability, and strategic state intervention is essential for
achieving inclusive economic transformation and long-term development across
postcolonial Africa.
Keywords: Economic
nationalism; foreign investment; postcolonial Africa; nationalisation;
indigenisation; economic sovereignty; sustainable development.
