What’s the issue with the way Africa is shown on maps? | Explained

To understand this debate, one must grasp the fundamental challenge of cartography: it is mathematically impossible to project a three-dimensional sphere (the Earth) onto a two-dimensional flat surface without introducing distortion. The Mercator projection, created in 1569, is a cylindrical map projection designed specifically for maritime navigation. Its defining feature is that it preserves angles and shapes (a property known as conformality), ensuring that a straight line drawn on the map represents a constant compass bearing (a rhumb line or loxodrome). This made navigation significantly easier for sailors. However, this conformality comes at a massive cost to true area representation. As one moves away from the Equator towards the poles, the scale increases rapidly, artificially inflating the size of landmasses in higher latitudes. Consequently, Greenland appears roughly the size of Africa on a Mercator map, whereas in reality, Africa is approximately 14 times larger. The AU's push for alternatives like the Equal Earth map projection (which is an equal-area pseudocylindrical projection) prioritizes accurate relative size over navigational utility, offering a more realistic depiction of the Earth's continents. UPSC Prelims often tests the properties of different map projections (e.g., conformality vs. equal area) and the specific distortions inherent in widely used maps like Mercator.

The debate over map projections extends far beyond geography; it is deeply embedded in geopolitics and post-colonial discourse. The widespread and persistent use of the Mercator projection, particularly in educational and media contexts, is viewed by critics as reinforcing a Eurocentric worldview. By visually enlarging Europe and North America relative to Africa and South America (the Global South), the map subtly reinforces historical narratives of Western dominance and significance. The African Union's endorsement of the 'Correct the Map' campaign is a strategic move to challenge this embedded soft power and assert African agency in shaping global narratives. It represents an effort to decolonize knowledge production and visual representation. This aligns with broader movements within the Global South demanding more equitable representation in international institutions and discourse. For UPSC Mains (GS Paper 2), this serves as an excellent example of how seemingly neutral scientific or technical tools (like maps) can carry profound political implications and how regional bodies like the African Union are working to counter historical marginalization through symbolic as well as practical actions.