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EU-China-Africa trilateral relations in a multipolar world: hic sunt dracones PDF

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The European Union in International Affairs Series Editors Sebastian Oberthür Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium Knud Erik Jørgensen Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark Philomena B. Murray University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia Sandra Lavenex University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland ThisBookSeriesaimstobeacentralresourceforthegrowingcommunity of scholars and policy-makers who engage with the evolving interface between the EU and international affairs. Its provides in-depth, cutting edge and original contributions of world-class research on the EU in international affairs by highlighting new developments, insights, chal- lenges and opportunities. It encompasses analyses of the EU’s interna- tional role, as mediated by its own Member States, in international institutions and in its strategic bilateral and regional partnerships. Books in the Series examine evolving EU internal policies that have external implications and the ways in which these are both driven by, and feed back into, international developments. Grounded in Political Science, International Relations, International Political Economy, Law, Sociology andHistory,theSeriesreflectsacommitmenttointer-disciplinaryscholar- ship.WewelcomebookproposalsrelatingtothechangingroleoftheEU in international affairs across policies and the Union’s relations with differentpartsoftheworld,aswellasrelationswithstatesandmultilateral institutions. We are interested in research on values and norms, interests and global governance and welcome both theory-informed studies and studies comparing the EU with other major global actors. To submit a proposal, please contact Commissioning Editor Ambra Finotello ambra. fi[email protected]. More information aboutthisseries at http://www.springer.com/series/14438 AnnaKatharinaStahl EU-China-Africa Trilateral Relations in a Multipolar World Hic Sunt Dracones AnnaKatharinaStahl CollegeofEurope Bruges,Belgium TheEuropeanUnioninInternationalAffairs ISBN978-1-137-58701-5 ISBN978-1-137-58702-2(eBook) https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-137-58702-2 LibraryofCongressControlNumber:2017936987 ©TheEditor(s)(ifapplicable)andTheAuthor(s)2018 Theauthor(s)has/haveassertedtheirright(s)tobeidentifiedastheauthor(s)ofthisworkin accordancewiththeCopyright,DesignsandPatentsAct1988. This work is subject to copyright. All rights are solely and exclusively licensed by the Publisher,whetherthewholeorpartofthematerialisconcerned,specificallytherightsof translation, reprinting, reuse of illustrations, recitation, broadcasting, reproduction on microfilms or in any other physical way, and transmission or information storage and retrieval,electronicadaptation,computersoftware,orbysimilarordissimilarmethodology nowknownorhereafterdeveloped. Theuseofgeneraldescriptivenames,registerednames,trademarks,servicemarks,etc.inthis publicationdoesnotimply,evenintheabsenceofaspecificstatement,thatsuchnamesare exemptfromtherelevantprotectivelawsandregulationsandthereforefreeforgeneraluse. Thepublisher,theauthorsandtheeditorsaresafetoassumethattheadviceandinformation in this book are believed to be true and accurate at the date of publication. Neither the publishernortheauthorsortheeditorsgiveawarranty,expressorimplied,withrespectto thematerialcontainedhereinorforanyerrorsoromissionsthatmayhavebeenmade.The publisherremainsneutralwithregardtojurisdictionalclaimsinpublishedmapsandinstitu- tionalaffiliations. Coverillustration©WilapornKatekaew/AlamyStockPhoto Printedonacid-freepaper ThisPalgraveMacmillanimprintispublishedbySpringerNature TheregisteredcompanyisMacmillanPublishersLtd. Theregisteredcompanyaddressis:TheCampus,4CrinanStreet,London,N19XW,United Kingdom For my family In memoryofVincenzo Schioppa Narrante F OREWORD This book could not be more timely. With the return of geopolitics, economic convergence between East and West, and the emergence of a multipolar international order, academic studies on the relationships between different international players are of utmost importance. Traditionally,scholarsofInternationalRelationsanddevelopmentstudies have focused their attention on bilateral and multilateral cooperation. Instead, this book takes an innovative approach by exploring the new trilateral relationship between the European Union (EU), China and Africa. Until not long ago, the USA and Russia were the two superpowers dominatingworldaffairs.Thisbookshowsthatthecurrentworldorderis undergoing a fundamental shift, moving away from a bilateral balance of power. Dr. Anna Katharina Stahl’s research clearly highlights that as the EU, China and Africa are expanding their international influence and building new alliances, they are contributing to the establishment of a newmultipolarworld.Eachofthethreepowerscontributesinitsownway to transformingthe currentinternational architecture. Foralongtime,Africahasbeenconsideredtheforgottencontinent.It is now the home to six of the ten fastest growing economies and some- timesreferredtoastheworld’snewgrowthengine.Africancountrieshave made significant progress in meeting the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) that were formulated by the UN to replace the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). At the same time, China has witnessed an unprecedentedeconomicprogressoverthepastfifteenyears.Onthebasis ofitsextraordinaryeconomicgrowth,Chinaisalsoseekingtoplayamore vii viii FOREWORD assertive international role. As the main driver of the BRICS, China is beginningtoputforwardalternativeproposalsandideasofglobalgovern- ance. China’s recent Belt and Road Initiative (OBOR) clearly illustrates the ambitions of the Chinese leadership to move the world’s major eco- nomic axis from the transatlantic alliance to a Eurasian one, while con- nectingSouthChinaandEastAfrica.Thisgrandconnectivityprojectwill revealwhetherinfrastructureinthedigitalagecanstillhavethesamekind of geopolitical impact as Roman roads in Europe 2,000 years ago or railways in the USA that connected the Atlantic and Pacific coast. The establishmentoftheAsianInfrastructureInvestmentBank(AIIB)andthe NewDevelopment Bank (NDB)areotherexamplesof Chineseeffortsto transform the current landscape of international organisations. The two internationalfinancialinstitutions(IFIs)reflectthedissatisfactionofChina andother emerging countries with their shareof voting rights withinthe established IFIs. Alongside Africa and China, the EU has also become an increasingly importantplayerontheglobalstage.InternationalRelationsscholarshave oftendescribedtheEUasaweakandincoherentinternationalactor.Yet, with the entering into force of the Lisbon Treaty in 2009, the EU has improved its institutional consistency and started to engage in a more effective foreign policy. The Lisbon Treaty created a range of new Europeaninstitutionsspecificallydedicatedforeignpolicymaking,namely the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, and the European External Action Service (EEAS). The EEAS is the EU’s diplomatic service and supports the EU High Representative in conducting EU foreign and security policy. It is responsible for the run- ningofmorethanonehundredEUdelegationsaroundtheworld,which is a clear indication of the EU’s growing global presence. Last year, the EU adopted a new Global Strategy for European Foreign and Security Policy. This important policy document provides the EU with a strategic vision and framework to face today’s international challenges in a strong and coherent manner. Moreover, EU policymakers have formulated spe- cificpoliciesregardingChinaandAfrica.Theyputforwardanewstrategy for China and are currently revising the EU’s longstanding partnership with Africa. Anyone seeking a deeper understanding of the transforming world order and unfolding trilateral relations between the EU, China and Africawill find thisbookfascinating.The threecases studiespresentedin thisbookofferawiderangeofnewempiricalevidence,collectedthrough FOREWORD ix painstaking fieldworkin ChinaandAfrica. Stahl’soriginal researchshows that the emerging EU-China-Africa relationship will have to stand the test, whether the EU and China can move beyond accusations of patern- alisms or neo-colonial behaviour. It also raises the question of how this trilateral relationship between unequal, yet unavoidable, partners can flourishagainst the background ofmajor globaltectonicsshifts. Dr.Gerhard Sabathil EU Ambassador to theRepublic ofKorea ret. Visiting ProfessoratSichuan University,Chengdu, China A CKNOWLEDGEMENTS Thisbookistheresultofalongandexcitingresearchjourneythatallowed me to broaden my European perspective and to discover many different facetsoftherapidlychangingglobalorder.Duringthisjourney,Iencoun- tered a variety of different individuals and institutions in Europe, China andAfrica, andIam deeplygrateful fortheir support. I am indebted, in particular, to two institutions for their generous support. The Institute for European Studies (IES) of the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) for giving me the opportunity to work as a doctoral researcher in a stimulating academic environment and the College of Europe for allowing me to contribute to the establishment of a new EU-China Research Centre and supporting me in the process of transforming my doctoral dissertation into this book. The completion of this book would not have been possible without the inspiration and intellectual input of a number of people. I would like to express my appreciation to my PhD supervisor Professor Gustaaf Geeraerts, as well asthemembersofmydoctoraljury,ProfessorChrisAlden,ProfessorJury Devuyst, Dr. Sven Grimm, Professor Eva Gross, Professor Sebastian Obertühr and Professor Stefaan Smis. I am also grateful for the support of Professor Sieglinde Gstöhl and Professor Simon Schunz, as well as Professor Katja Biedenkopf, Professor Joachim Koops and Professor AlexanderMattelaer. The research project has benefitted from field research in China and Africa,aswellasfrominterviewscarriedoutinEurope.Eachofthemore than 100 interviews with European, Chinese and Africa experts has con- tributed to connecting the pieces of the research puzzle. I would like to xi

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