The Policy Center for the New South (PCNS) released the 11th edition of its flagship annual publication, Atlantic Currents 2024: Building Interdependence and Solidarity in a Fragmented World, in December 2024. The report brings together 25 essays from senior analysts and researchers across the four Atlantic continents, offering new insights into the geopolitical, economic and social transformations shaping the wider Atlantic space.

Alan Hirsch, Senior Research Fellow at the New South Institute and lead of the Migration Governance Reform programme is one of the contributors to this edition. His chapter, “Migration Governance Paradoxes and Realistic Pathways: An African Perspective”, addresses the structural tensions surrounding African migration policy and the need to shift the global narrative toward pragmatic, fair and development-oriented approaches.

Key topics explored in the report include:

• The strategic relevance of Atlantic Africa and its role in continental integration;
• Geoeconomic cooperation and the challenges of economic nationalism;
• Pathways toward an Afro-Atlantic economic community;
• Maritime security, energy transitions and climate resilience; and
• Migration governance and opportunities for talent retention in Africa.

The report argues that, amid a context of global fragmentation, the Atlantic offers a unique opportunity to foster more balanced and inclusive forms of cooperation between the Global North and South − especially if anchored in shared interests, historical ties and interdependence.

We invite readers to explore the report’s findings and recommendations.

📄 Download the executive summary [PDF]
📘 Purchase the full report from the Policy Center for the New South: Atlantic Currents 2024