POST-CONDITIONALITY REGIMES, EU-AFRICA RELATIONS AND THE ENGLISH SCHOOL OFINTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

Abstract

Abstract This article introduces the English School approach to the debate on EU-Africa aid and development relations. Liberal institutionalist, neo-colonial, moral economy and post-structuralist approaches have dominated the analysis of these relations so far. The purpose is to examine EU-Africa relations through the English School’s concept of imperial systems especially with a view to explaining the rise of post-conditionality regimes in Africa. Post-conditionality presents a puzzle for the other existing approaches to EU-Africa relations whereas the concept of imperial systems is well-placed to address it. The emphasis is on the early thinkers of the School, Martin Wight and in particular Adam Watson. We seek not only to demonstrate the relevance of Watson’s arguments to understanding post-conditionality but also explore how this situation is legitimised discursively through references to equality between Europe and Africa and to world society. Keywords: English School, Africa, EU, post-conditionality, hierarchy ----- Bibliography: Ruacan, Ipek Zeynep: Post-conditionality regimes, EU-Africa relations and the English School of International Relations, ERIS, 2-2016, pp. 20-37. https://doi.org/10.3224/eris.v3i2.03