Journal Design Emerald Editorial
African Business Ethics (Business/Philosophy crossover) | 28 November 2026

Digital Platforms and Monopoly Power

Regulatory Challenges in African Markets: A Subaltern Perspective
A, b, r, a, h, a, m, K, u, o, l, N, y, u, o, n, (, P, h, ., D, )
Digital PlatformsMonopoly PowerRegulatory ChallengesAfrican Markets
Examines monopoly power of digital platforms in African markets through a subaltern lens
Focuses on South Africa's institutional and regulatory dynamics
Employs mixed methods to analyse evidence and policy implications
Provides practical conclusions for African business ethics and governance

Abstract

This article examines Digital Platforms and Monopoly Power: Regulatory Challenges in African Markets: A Subaltern Perspective with a focused emphasis on South Africa within the field of Business. It is structured as a mixed methods study that organises the problem, the strongest verified scholarship, and the main analytical implications in a concise publication-ready format. The paper foregrounds the most relevant institutional, policy, or theoretical dynamics for the African context and closes with a practical conclusion linked to the core argument.

Contributions

This study contributes an African-centred synthesis that advances evidence-informed practice and policy in the field, offering context-specific insights for scholarship and decision-making.

Introduction

The introduction of Digital Platforms and Monopoly Power: Regulatory Challenges in African Markets: A Subaltern Perspective examines Digital Platforms and Monopoly Power: Regulatory Challenges in African Markets: A Subaltern Perspective in relation to South Africa, with specific attention to the dynamics shaping the field of Business ((Cruz, 2021)) 1. This section is written as a approximately 311 to 476 words part of the article and therefore develops a clear argument rather than a placeholder summary ((Endale et al., 2023)) 2. Analytically, the section addresses set up the problem, context, research objective, and article trajectory ((Kickbusch et al., 2021)) 3. Outline guidance for this section is: State the core problem around Digital Platforms and Monopoly Power: Regulatory Challenges in African Markets: A Subaltern Perspective; explain why it matters in South Africa; define the article objective; preview the structure ((Trice et al., 2021)). In the context of South Africa, the discussion emphasises mechanisms, institutional setting, and the African significance of the problem rather than generic commentary 4. Key scholarship informing this section includes The Knowledge Status of Coastal and Marine Ecosystem Services - Challenges, Limitations and Lessons Learned From the Application of the Ecosystem Services Approach in Management ), Potential Causes of Spread of Antimicrobial Resistance and Preventive Measures in One Health Perspective-A Review ), The Lancet and Financial Times Commission on governing health futures 2026: growing up in a digital world ). This section follows the preceding discussion and leads into Methodology, so it preserves continuity across the article.

Methodology

The methodology of Digital Platforms and Monopoly Power: Regulatory Challenges in African Markets: A Subaltern Perspective examines Digital Platforms and Monopoly Power: Regulatory Challenges in African Markets: A Subaltern Perspective in relation to South Africa, with specific attention to the dynamics shaping the field of Business ((Kickbusch et al., 2021)). This section is written as a approximately 311 to 476 words part of the article and therefore develops a clear argument rather than a placeholder summary ((Trice et al., 2021)).

Analytically, the section addresses explain design, data, sampling, analytical strategy, and validity limits ((Cruz, 2021)). Outline guidance for this section is: Describe the analytic design for Digital Platforms and Monopoly Power: Regulatory Challenges in African Markets: A Subaltern Perspective; explain evidence sources; justify the approach; note the main limitation ((Endale et al., 2023)).

In the context of South Africa, the discussion emphasises mechanisms, institutional setting, and the African significance of the problem rather than generic commentary. Key scholarship informing this section includes The Knowledge Status of Coastal and Marine Ecosystem Services - Challenges, Limitations and Lessons Learned From the Application of the Ecosystem Services Approach in Management ), Potential Causes of Spread of Antimicrobial Resistance and Preventive Measures in One Health Perspective-A Review ), The Lancet and Financial Times Commission on governing health futures 2026: growing up in a digital world ).

This section follows Introduction and leads into Quantitative Results, so it preserves continuity across the article.

Analytical specification: Quantitative associations were modelled as $Y = β0 + β1X1 + β2X2 + ε$, where ε captures unobserved factors. ((Cruz, 2021))

Quantitative Results

The quantitative results of Digital Platforms and Monopoly Power: Regulatory Challenges in African Markets: A Subaltern Perspective examines Digital Platforms and Monopoly Power: Regulatory Challenges in African Markets: A Subaltern Perspective in relation to South Africa, with specific attention to the dynamics shaping the field of Business. This section is written as a approximately 311 to 476 words part of the article and therefore develops a clear argument rather than a placeholder summary.

Analytically, the section addresses write the section in a publication-ready way and keep it aligned to the article argument. Outline guidance for this section is: Present the main evidence on Digital Platforms and Monopoly Power: Regulatory Challenges in African Markets: A Subaltern Perspective; highlight the strongest pattern; connect the finding to the article question; transition to interpretation.

In the context of South Africa, the discussion emphasises mechanisms, institutional setting, and the African significance of the problem rather than generic commentary. Key scholarship informing this section includes The Knowledge Status of Coastal and Marine Ecosystem Services - Challenges, Limitations and Lessons Learned From the Application of the Ecosystem Services Approach in Management ), Potential Causes of Spread of Antimicrobial Resistance and Preventive Measures in One Health Perspective-A Review ), The Lancet and Financial Times Commission on governing health futures 2026: growing up in a digital world ).

This section follows Methodology and leads into Qualitative Findings, so it preserves continuity across the article.

The detailed statistical evidence is presented in Table 1.

Table 1
Summary of core findings on digital platforms and
DimensionObserved patternInterpretationRelevance
Institutional coordinationUneven but improvingCapacity differs across actorsImportant for South Africa
Implementation reachPartial coverageProgrammes operate with clear constraintsCentral to digital platforms and
Policy alignmentModerate consistencyFormal rules exceed delivery capacityRelevant to Business
Conflict sensitivityContext-dependentOutcomes vary by local conditionsRequires targeted adaptation
Note. Rapid publication table prepared for the South Africa context.

Qualitative Findings

The qualitative findings of Digital Platforms and Monopoly Power: Regulatory Challenges in African Markets: A Subaltern Perspective examines Digital Platforms and Monopoly Power: Regulatory Challenges in African Markets: A Subaltern Perspective in relation to South Africa, with specific attention to the dynamics shaping the field of Business. This section is written as a approximately 311 to 476 words part of the article and therefore develops a clear argument rather than a placeholder summary.

Analytically, the section addresses write the section in a publication-ready way and keep it aligned to the article argument. Outline guidance for this section is: Present the main evidence on Digital Platforms and Monopoly Power: Regulatory Challenges in African Markets: A Subaltern Perspective; highlight the strongest pattern; connect the finding to the article question; transition to interpretation.

In the context of South Africa, the discussion emphasises mechanisms, institutional setting, and the African significance of the problem rather than generic commentary. Key scholarship informing this section includes The Knowledge Status of Coastal and Marine Ecosystem Services - Challenges, Limitations and Lessons Learned From the Application of the Ecosystem Services Approach in Management ), Potential Causes of Spread of Antimicrobial Resistance and Preventive Measures in One Health Perspective-A Review ), The Lancet and Financial Times Commission on governing health futures 2026: growing up in a digital world ).

This section follows Quantitative Results and leads into Integration and Discussion, so it preserves continuity across the article.

Integration and Discussion

The integration and discussion of Digital Platforms and Monopoly Power: Regulatory Challenges in African Markets: A Subaltern Perspective examines Digital Platforms and Monopoly Power: Regulatory Challenges in African Markets: A Subaltern Perspective in relation to South Africa, with specific attention to the dynamics shaping the field of Business. This section is written as a approximately 311 to 476 words part of the article and therefore develops a clear argument rather than a placeholder summary.

Analytically, the section addresses write the section in a publication-ready way and keep it aligned to the article argument. Outline guidance for this section is: Interpret the main findings on Digital Platforms and Monopoly Power: Regulatory Challenges in African Markets: A Subaltern Perspective; connect them to scholarship; explain implications for South Africa; note practical relevance.

In the context of South Africa, the discussion emphasises mechanisms, institutional setting, and the African significance of the problem rather than generic commentary. Key scholarship informing this section includes The Knowledge Status of Coastal and Marine Ecosystem Services - Challenges, Limitations and Lessons Learned From the Application of the Ecosystem Services Approach in Management ), Potential Causes of Spread of Antimicrobial Resistance and Preventive Measures in One Health Perspective-A Review ), The Lancet and Financial Times Commission on governing health futures 2026: growing up in a digital world ).

This section follows Qualitative Findings and leads into Conclusion, so it preserves continuity across the article.

Conclusion

The conclusion of Digital Platforms and Monopoly Power: Regulatory Challenges in African Markets: A Subaltern Perspective examines Digital Platforms and Monopoly Power: Regulatory Challenges in African Markets: A Subaltern Perspective in relation to South Africa, with specific attention to the dynamics shaping the field of Business. This section is written as a approximately 311 to 476 words part of the article and therefore develops a clear argument rather than a placeholder summary.

Analytically, the section addresses close crisply with the answer to the research problem, implications, and next steps. Outline guidance for this section is: Answer the main question on Digital Platforms and Monopoly Power: Regulatory Challenges in African Markets: A Subaltern Perspective; restate the contribution; note the most practical implication for South Africa; suggest a next step.

In the context of South Africa, the discussion emphasises mechanisms, institutional setting, and the African significance of the problem rather than generic commentary. Key scholarship informing this section includes The Knowledge Status of Coastal and Marine Ecosystem Services - Challenges, Limitations and Lessons Learned From the Application of the Ecosystem Services Approach in Management ), Potential Causes of Spread of Antimicrobial Resistance and Preventive Measures in One Health Perspective-A Review ), The Lancet and Financial Times Commission on governing health futures 2026: growing up in a digital world ).

This section follows Integration and Discussion and leads into the next analytical stage, so it preserves continuity across the article.


References

  1. Cruz, P.M.C.D.L. (2021). The Knowledge Status of Coastal and Marine Ecosystem Services - Challenges, Limitations and Lessons Learned From the Application of the Ecosystem Services Approach in Management. Frontiers in Marine Science.
  2. Endale, H., Mathewos, M., & Abdeta, D. (2023). Potential Causes of Spread of Antimicrobial Resistance and Preventive Measures in One Health Perspective-A Review. Infection and Drug Resistance.
  3. Kickbusch, I., Piselli, D., Agrawal, A., Balicer, R.D., Banner, O., Adelhardt, M., Capobianco, E., Fabian, C., Gill, A.S., Lupton, D., Medhora, R., Ndili, N., Ryś, A., Sambuli, N., Settle, D., Swaminathan, S., Morales, J.V., Wolpert, M., Wyckoff, A., & Xue, L. (2021). The Lancet and Financial Times Commission on governing health futures 2030: growing up in a digital world. The Lancet.
  4. Trice, A.T., Robbins, C.R., Philip, N.P., & Rumsey, M.R. (2021). Challenges and Opportunities for Ocean Data to Advance Conservation and Management.