Past Event! Note: this event has already taken place.
Lecture: EU-Africa Relations in Flux: Challenges to foreign policy in the developing world
March 11, 2015 at 1:00 PM to 2:30 PM
| Location: | Alumni Hall, 617 Robertson Hall, 6th Floor Robertson Hall |
| Cost: | Free |
| Audience: | Anyone |
| Contact Email: | ces@carleton.ca |
The Centre for European Studies in Collaboration with the Jean Monnet Chair at York University are pleased to present
EU-Africa Relations in Flux: Challenges to foreign policy in the developing world
with Dr. John Kotsopoulos
Abstract: Africa is of particular relevance to the EU because of the historical ties between the two. For decades the relationship was based on a series of aid and trade agreements, which were initially touted as progressive but became increasingly politicised — on the EU’s terms. Yet the beginning of the 21st century has marked Africa’s renewed international prominence, burgeoning relations with the booming global South, and new home grown regional institutions. The EU’s response has been to engage Africa as an ostensible “equal” partner, including the conclusion of a unique joint strategy framework agreement. This talk considers how the instruments of the EU’s foreign policy make consistent and continued significance in a changing Africa a challenge.
Lecturer bio: John Kotsopoulos is a research consultant at the Centre for the Study of Governance Innovation, University of Pretoria. He holds a MA Degree in Political Science (Carleton) and a PhD in International Relations (University of Kent) with a focus on asymmetrical negotiations between the European Union and Africa. He was formerly a policy analyst with the European Policy Centre think-tank in Brussels and earlier served as a political desk officer at the Department of Foreign Affairs in Ottawa.