ON THE DIALECTICAL RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN EUROPE AND AFRICA
ON THE DIALECTICAL RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN EUROPE AND AFRICA

Summary/Abstract: The paper explores the dialectical relationship between EU and Africa as it is driven by the relative asymmetric capacities and divergent priorities of the involved parties. Both the European Union and the African Union have enlarged their capabilities and increased their foreign policy ambitions over recent decades. However, the asymmetric relationship persisted. The increased visibility of the EU in the global arena and its “normative” ambitions meant a change in EU–Africa relations. However, in the last decades, Africa remained mostly undeveloped and we have witnessed increase in violent conflicts and state fragility, despite decades of “stick and carrot” institutional measures. This suggested that the existing EU-Africa cooperation formula should be improved. The regional power of the EU (structural power) determines how the EU relates to other actors, including the AU. As such, revisiting the policy cooperation errors of the past, building trust, and investing in academic cooperation are thus essential, through redefining the basis for cooperation between Europe and Africa.

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