African Perceptions of the European Union: Assessing the Work of the EU in the Field of Democracy Promotion and Peacekeeping

Abstract

In recent years, the relationship between the European Union and Africa has undergone significant changes at the political and the economic levels. Trade reforms have taken place, and peacekeeping cooperation and political dialogue have increased. The African continent has become a test bed to assess the EU’s ambitions as global player. Drawing on data on the African Union (AU), Kenya and South Africa, this paper provides a general overview of the thoughts of African political leaders and opinion formers on the EU’s peacekeeping and democracy promotion initiatives.The EU is generally perceived as a progressive international player in the fields of peacekeeping and democracy promotion. Nonetheless, the failure of negotiations on an Economic Partnership Agreement is likely to affect the long-term credibility of the EU’s promotion of peace and democracy. Political conditionality, such as the human rights and democracy clauses included in trade agreements, might increasingly be disputed by African governments eager to exploit China’s competitive and ‘unconditional’ trade deals.