The EU and Africa: A Multilateral Model for the Future of Africa–China Relations?

Abstract

China–Africa relations are considered part of the vanguard of future international relations, representing an example of burgeoning South–South relations and alternatives to the historic hegemony of the Global North. In distinct contrast stands the seemingly dated and historically burdened relationship between Africa and Europe, including the European Union. Yet, beyond the perceptions lie elements of the China–Africa relationship which in fact replicate some of the dynamics of a conventional asymmetric relationship, especially with respect to the bilateral nature of most of China’s engagement with the continent. In contrast, EU–Africa relations are deeply multilateral, providing the African Union with an opportunity to play a consolidating role, increasing Africa’s coherence and leverage through unity. This channelling of relations through the AU in fact corresponds with recent initiatives to update Africa’s partnerships—meaning that EU–Africa relations could, ironically, serve as a partial blueprint for the future direction of China–Africa relations. Trilateralisation of the EU–Africa–China relationship, however, remains more of a distant possibility in terms of deeply substantive engagement.