The project “Europe and China: The New International Security and Development Actors in Africa” under the framework of CO-REACH-SSR launched in October 2009. This is a collaborative research project among the Institute of European Studies/CASS, University of Nottingham/United Kingdom, University of Florence/Italy and University of Florence/Italy. The Chinese Principle Investigator is Prof. Dr Zhou Hong, Director of the Institute of European Studies/CASS; The European Principle Investigator is Dr Catherine Gegout, Lecturer in International Relations of University of Nottingham/United Kingdom. The project is co-funded by Chinese Academy of Social Sciences and institutions of partner countries, and it will last for two years.
IES research group members:
Prof/Dr. Zhou Hong;
Associate Prof. Liu Fei
Associate Prof. Zhang Jun;
Dr. Xiong Hou
Main European research group members： Dr Catherine Gegout, University of Nottingham /United Kingdom Prof. Luciano Bozzo, University of Florence/Italy
Prof. Axel Berkofsky, University of Milan/Italy
Abstract EU CO-Reach This collaborative research project aims to find out: how do the actors responsible for aid, trade and security policies coordinate their policies within their respective institutions? How do China and EU interact with private actors on the ground, such as international NGOs, and Chinese and European companies in Africa? And what is the impact of the EU and China on the ground, and how do their policies contribute to their image as world powers? The EU and China are major economic actors in Africa; both in trade and development issues. However, their approaches towards development aid towards Africa differ significantly. The EU applies the concept of so-called ‘conditionality’ to its aid policy. In contrast, China provides aid to African states, with an emphasis on the importance of so-called ‘unconditionality’. The way the EU and China engages in peacekeeping missions in Africa also differs.
What is the impact of these EU and Chinese approaches and policies, both in African states in crisis, and in the EU and in China? This main question leads to the following subset of three questions: How do the actors responsible for aid, trade and security policies coordinate their policies within their respective institutions? How do China and EU interact with private actors on the ground, such as international NGOs, and Chinese and European companies in Africa? And what is the impact of the EU and China on the ground, and how do their policies contribute to their image as world powers? The project is divided in three sections, which will be studied over a period of two years: 1. Trade, aid, security policies, and the coordination of multilevel governance in China and the EU； 2. Interaction between European and Chinese public and private actors in African states in crisis, and impact on security and development in Africa 3. Perceptions in Africa of China and the EU, and the rise of China and the EU as credible and responsible world powers.
CO-REACH-SSR launched