Solidarity in an oppressive world? The paradox of Malaysia-African interactions in Higher Education

This chapter considers the significance of African international students in Malaysia's higher education in reference to Malaysia's economic and foreign policy. It presents the ideals of South–South cooperation have been reinvested with meaning and urgency because of the 60th anniversary of the Bandung conference in 2015. The anti-racist stance was not only a show of political solidarity with South Africa, it was also part of South–South initiatives where Malaysia pledged economic support for developing economies, many of which were African. Inherent in the racialized structure of Malaysian society and the racialization of African students as a symbol of diversity in Malaysia's higher education is the potential for discrimination based on race, as has been experienced by numerous African students. Malaysia's higher education sector has been built upon an image of anti-racism and solidarity. The development of Malaysia's private higher education sector has thus benefitted from the increased political and economic ties with African countries.