The European Union's Africa Policies. Norms, Interests and Impact

The European Union (EU) is a key partner for African regional organizations and a major promoter of economic and political integration in the region. So far, mainstream studies have interpreted the EU's role in Africa as either a self-interested hegemonic actor or as a value oriented normative power. This volume challenges these views by taking a closer look at Europe's policies towards Sub-Saharan Africa in the area of peacekeeping, trade and development, and environmental protection. Using fresh empirical evidence, including interviews with both European and African officials, she argues that the EU is far from becoming a unitary player in Africa. Lacking a clear strategy and coherent normative framework, the EU should be considered a multi-level actor, where national and supranational institutions have different interests and push forward contrasting views of what role Europe should play in Africa.