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Introduction
The European Union (EU) and Africa have had a long and complex relation for several decades. The EU as a whole and its individual Member States are Africa’s main trading partner and constitutes the main source of the Continent’s development aid. For a long time, this relationship has been based on a number of comprehensive agreements and conventions under the umbrella of the Africa, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) group of states. However, in recent time, the EU is redefining its relationship with new geographical and thematic policies under the Union’s general external policies. While, the EU seeks to reposition itself, the African continent is equally undergoing dramatic economic and political transformation and attracting international geopolitical attention. This course will among other things, discuss the EU’s Trade, Development Aid, Foreign and Security, Immigration and Asylum and Agricultural policies with Africa. The course will subsequently provide the opportunity for participants to contribute in the European and indeed global debate on the presence and activities of emerging global power such as Brazil, Russia, India, and China (BRIC) in Africa.
Course Content:
The course will cover the following topics:
1. Introduction I: The Treaty Foundations of EU External Policies
2. Introduction II: History of EU-Africa International Relations
3. EU-Africa International Relations: Development Aid Policy
4. EU-Africa International Relations: Trade Policy
5. EU-Africa International Relations: Agricultural Policy
6. EU-Africa International Relations: Foreign and Security Policy
7. EU-Africa International Relations: Crisis Management Policy
8. EU-Africa International Relations: Immigration and Asylum Policy
9. EU-Africa International Relations in the Context of the Presence of China and United States in Africa
The aim of the course shall therefore include:
1. To lay out the relevant institutions and instruments in the set-up of the EU’s external relations. It will provide basic understanding of the different fields of EU external relations (as mentioned above) and the external impact of some of the EU-internal policies such as Justice and Home Affairs. The course is to introduce students to the basic institutional configurations and policy fields of EU external relations by also highlighting the nature of EU external
competences and the division of competences between EU institutions and the Member States.
2. To provide students with a deeper understanding of the complexity of EU-Africa relations in the context of the general EU External Policies. To guide students in discussion on how the different EU actors and policy fields interact in relations with Africa. Students will be exposed to the EU policies towards Africa such as EU’s development aid, trade, foreign and security, migration, humanitarian aid, etc. as well as the impact of some internal EU policies in Africa.
3. To support and encourage students to develop their own critical academic analysis of EU-Africa relations. The course will be interactive in nature and offers opportunities for students to explore their own areas of interests in the EU-Africa relations as a field of study.
4. To provide constructive in-course feedback on proposals for seminar papers (possibly allowing the participants to test first ideas on future bachelor theses).
5. To provide an opportunity for students to develop their public speaking and negotiation skills.
Course Requirements:
The seminar requirements consist of maximum class participation, one presentation, participation in a model trade negotiation and an end of term academic paper.
The course will consist of 4 block seminars on Fridays (10-16h))
Details of dates and time will follow later. |
