EU-Africa Relations
| Title | EU-Africa Relations / EU-Africa Relations |
| Code | ESCO206 |
| Faculty | Social and Economic Sciences |
| School | Political Sciences |
| Cycle / Level | 1st / Undergraduate, 2nd / Postgraduate |
| Teaching Period | Winter/Spring |
| Coordinator | Ioannis Papageorgiou |
| Common | Yes |
| Status | Active |
| Course ID | 600022588 |
Programme of Study: International Studies: Specialization in European Studies
Registered students: 5
| Orientation | Attendance Type | Semester | Year | ECTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| KORMOS | Elective Courses beloging to the selected specialization | 2 | 1 | 5 |
| Academic Year | 2023 – 2024 |
| Class Period | Spring |
| Faculty Instructors |
|
| Weekly Hours | 3 |
| Total Hours | 39 |
| Class ID | 600229045
|
Course Type 2021
Specific Foundation
Mode of Delivery
- Face to face
Digital Course Content
- e-Study Guide https://qa.auth.gr/en/class/1/600229045
- At the Website of the School:
- eLearning:
Erasmus
The course is also offered to exchange programme students.
Language of Instruction
- English (Instruction, Examination)
Learning Outcomes
Bupon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:
• Understand the historical background and the political, and economic contexts that have shaped EU-Africa relations.
• Identify the key actors and institutions involved in the relationship.
• Analyze the different dimensions of the relationship, including trade, development cooperation, security, and migration.
• Analyze the main policy frameworks and instruments used by the EU and African countries to manage their relations.
• Evaluate the challenges, opportunities, and limitations of EU-Africa cooperation.
• Develop critical thinking skills and critically assess the impact of EU-Africa relations on African countries, the EU, and global governance.
• Formulate policy recommendations to enhance the effectiveness and coherence of EU-Africa relations.
General Competences
- Apply knowledge in practice
- Retrieve, analyse and synthesise data and information, with the use of necessary technologies
- Work autonomously
- Work in teams
- Work in an international context
- Work in an interdisciplinary team
- Appreciate diversity and multiculturality
- Respect natural environment
- Advance free, creative and causative thinking
Course Content (Syllabus)
This course provides an in-depth analysis of the evolving relations between the European Union (EU) and Africa. Africa has always played a very important role for Europe and vice versa, the more so during the last centuries. Nowadays, on one hand, Africa is a challenge for the EU and its Member States, due to its geographically proximity and its youngest demographic profile worldwide. Europe will continue to face issues like the recent migratory or Ebola crises that affect its domestic politics. On the other hand, Africa was and remains a traditional land of opportunities for Europe has become the place of a ‘‘new scramble’’ provoked by China and other emerging countries that take advantage of EU fragilities. In addition, Africa is tightly networked with its diaspora in Europe, which is a principal source of remittances.
In this context, the course explores the historical, economic, and political relations between Africa and the EU and looks into the main issues of contention and interests between the two continents, in particular trade, development cooperation, security, migration and democratization, asking whether the EU effectively pursues a forward-looking strategy suggested in the official discourse or is trapped in spite of its commitments in a backward looking strategy that still reflects the asymmetrical postcolonial relations and favors the position of the emerging powers. The course will examine the various dimensions of this relationship, both from the EU viewpoint and for Africa. It analyses the challenges and opportunities presented by this relationship and examines the history, drivers, and challenges of EU-Africa relations, the main policy frameworks, and instruments employed by both parties, and the impact of these relations on African countries, the EU, and global governance.
Course Outline
Week 1: Introduction to EU-Africa elations
• Overview of the historical background of the relationship
• Key actors and institutions involved
• Drivers and motivations of EU engagement in Africa
• African perspectives on EU-Africa relations
Week 2: EU-Africa Policy Frameworks
• The Cotonou Agreement and its successor, the Post-Cotonou Agreement
• The Joint Africa-EU Strategy and its Action Plan
• The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and EU trade policiew
Week 3: Economic Relations
• Trade relations between Africa and the EU
• The EU's development aid to Africa
• The European Development Fund (EDF)
•
Week 4: Political Relations
• The EU's role in promoting democracy and human rights in Africa
• The African Union and its relationship with the EU
Week 5: Security Relations
• The EU's role in peacekeeping and conflict resolution in Africa
• The impact of terrorism and transnational organized crime on Africa-EU relations
Week 6: Migration
• The EU's migration policies and their impact on Africa
• African perspectives on migration
• African demographics
Week 7: The Role of Other Actors in EU-Africa Relations
• The role of China, the US, and other global powers in Africa
• The African Union (AU) and regional organizations
• Civil society and the private sector in EU-Africa relations
Week 8: Case Studies – the DRC
• Analysis of the specific case of the Democratic Republic of Congo in the EU- Africa relations
• Presentations and discussions on current issues regarding DRC
Week 9: Case Studies – the Horn of Africa
• Analysis of the specific cases of the Horn of Africa countries in the EU- Africa relations
• Presentations and discussions on current issues regarding the Horn of Africa
Week 10: Case Studies – the Sahel
• Analysis of the specific cases of the Sahel countries in the EU- Africa relations
• Presentations and discussions on current issues regarding issues in the Sahel region
Week 11: the climate emergency
• The impact of climate change on Africa – desertification and season blurring
• The political aspects of climate change in EU-Africa relations
Week 12: Challenges and Opportunities
• Structural challenges to EU-Africa cooperation
• The impact of COVID-19 on EU-Africa relations
• Opportunities for enhancing EU-Africa cooperation
Week 13: Conclusion and Final Exam
Summary of key themes and issues covered in the course
Final exam covering all course material
Keywords
European Union, Africa, international relations, European policies
Educational Material Types
- Notes
- Slide presentations
- Interactive excersises
- Book
Use of Information and Communication Technologies
Use of ICT
- Use of ICT in Course Teaching
- Use of ICT in Communication with Students
- Use of ICT in Student Assessment
Course Organization
| Activities | Workload | ECTS | Individual | Teamwork | Erasmus |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lectures | 39 | 1.4 | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Reading Assigment | 67 | 2.4 | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Written assigments | 29 | 1.1 | |||
| Exams | 3 | 0.1 | |||
| Total | 138 | 5.0 |
Student Assessment
Description
Class participation and engagement (20%)
Written assignments during the semester (40%)
Case study presentation (20%)
Final exam (20%)
Student Assessment methods
- Written Exam with Multiple Choice Questions (Formative)
- Written Exam with Short Answer Questions (Formative)
- Written Assignment (Formative)
- Oral Exams (Formative)
- Performance / Staging (Formative)
- Report (Formative)
Bibliography
Additional bibliography for study
Adekeye Adebajo and Kaye Whiteman (editors). The EU and Africa : from Eurafrique to Afro-Europa, New York : Columbia University Press, c2012.
Alden, Chris Emerging Powers and Africa: From Development to Geopolitics (2019), IAI - Istituto Affari Internazionali.
Ayenew, M. B., & Gebrekidan, D. A. (2019). The EU’s Partnership with Africa: Challenges and Prospects. Journal of Global Politics and Current Diplomacy, 7(2), 29-41.
Chabason, L. (2019). The future of EU-Africa relations: What role for civil society?. European Union Institute for Security Studies.
European Commission (2007)” Africa-EU Partnership: Strategic Partnership 2008-2010” Lisbon, 9 December 2007, COM 16344/07.
De Lombaerde, P., & de Castro, G. (2020). The European Union and Africa: Reflecting on the last decade and looking ahead. African Journal of Political Science and International Relations, 14(1), 1-12.
Fargion Valeria - Gazibo Mamoudou (eds.). (2021), Revisiting EU-Africa Relations in a Changing World (New Horizons in European Politics series), Edward Elgar.
Farrell, Mary (2010) Bridging the Gap between EU, Mediterranean and Africa relations: Partnership, Governance and (Re)-evolving Relations », L'Europe en Formation, vol. 356, no. 2, 2010, pp. 169-191.
Mangala, Jack (Ed.). 2013. Africa and the European Union. A Strategic Partnership. New York: Palgrave/Macmillan.
Nsereko, J. R. (2020). European Union–Africa relations in the new era: Towards a common understanding of interests?. Strategic Review for Southern Africa, 42(1), 86-102.
Sicurelli, D. (2015) The European Union's Africa Policy: Norms, Interests and Impact, e-book, London: Routledge.
Staeger, Ueli, The European Union’s Regionalism Diplomacy in Africa: An English School Approach, Bruges Regional Integration & Global Governance Papers, 2015 in http://aei.pitt.edu/68323/1/BRIGG_2_2015_Staeger.pdf
Last Update
29-05-2023
