Why Europe Intervenes in Africa: Security Prestige and the Legacy of Colonialism

by Catherine Gegout

Overview

Why Europe Intervenes in Africa analyses the underlying causes of all European decisions for and against military interventions in conflicts in African states since the late 1980s. It focuses on the main European actors who have deployed troops in Africa: France, the United Kingdom and the European Union. When conflict occurs in Africa, the response of European actors is generally inaction. This can be explained in several ways: the absence of strategic and economic interests, the unwillingness of European leaders to become involved in conflicts in former colonies of other European states, and sometimes the Eurocentric assumption that conflict in Africa is a normal event which does not require intervention. When European actors do decide to intervene, it is primarily for motives of security and prestige, and not primarily for economic or humanitarian reasons. The weight of past relations with Africa can also be a driver for European military intervention, but the impact of that past is changing. This book offers a theory of European intervention based mainly on realist and post-colonial approaches. It refutes the assumptions of liberals and constructivists who posit that states and organisations intervene primarily in order to respect the principle of the 'responsibility to protect'.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780190911799
Publisher:	Oxford University Press
Publication date:	01/01/2018
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
File size:	2 MB

About the Author

Catherine Gegout is Associate Professor in International Relations at the University of Nottingham. She was Principal Investigator for the British Academy Co-Reach project on Europe and China: Addressing New International Security and Development Challenges in Africa. Her first book was European Foreign and Security Policy: States, Power, Institutions.

Table of Contents

Illustrations 8 Introduction 9 Theorizing European Military Intervention 10 Security, Prestige and the Weight of Neo-colonialism 11 A New Light on Intervention, and Rejection of Eurocentrism 12 Research Design and Methodology 14 Context: Conflict and Politics in Africa 18 1. A Theory of European Military Intervention 26 Defining Military Intervention 26 Realism 33 Constructivism 40 Post-colonialism 42 2. Historical Background 46 Colonialism or 'Robbery with Violence' 46 Post-Decolonization: Europe's Protected Zones of Influence 53 3. Actors in Military Intervention: A Global Perspective 64 The Developing Role of African Actors 64 Increasing UN Presence 71 The Rising Influence of China 73 The United States and Military Expansion 76 4. The Persistence of the French Pré Carré 92 La Françafrique, French Exceptionalism 92 A Substantial Military Presence 98 Neo-colonial Constraints, Convenient Relations and Prestige 125 5. The United Kingdom: the Colonial Legacy, and International Prestige 138 Limited Economic and Diplomatic Presence 138 Multilateral Military Intervention 142 'Africa for Africans' and International Legitimacy 154 6. The European Union: Indifference, Security and Economic Interests, Prestige 158 Massive Aid and Waning Trade 158 The Rise of Security Diplomacy and Civilian Crisis Management 165 Minimal Military Intervention 170 Prestige, Security and Waning of Neo-colonialism 182 7. European Intervention in Africa: the Past and the Future 187 A Summary of Findings 187 Conditions for Future Interventions, and Implications for Africa 193 Genuine Humanitarian Motives 195 Appendix. Situating 'Why Europe Intervenes in Africa' in the Literature 197 Bibliography 200

Editorial Reviews

"An amazingly comprehensive study . . . fascinating." — Chartist

"Gegout's book constitutes a solid and extremely comprehensive overview of interventionism in Africa . . . a welcome contribution." — European Review of International Studies

"[An] ambitious and prodigiously researched book . . . Gegout's work is compelling and should be of significant interest to scholars and practitioners."—South African Journal of International Affairs

"A great contribution to the conceptualization of security, prestige, intervention, humanitarianism, conflict, and economic motivation . . . a provocative, critical and insightful reading about the real motives of interventions and their long-lasting impacts."— Africa at LSE Blog

"Catherine Gegout has provided us with a deeply researched and incisive treatment of Europe's post-colonial military interventions in Africa — a subject which too often flies beneath the radar. In so doing she establishes herself as the most authoritative voice in the field. Her book is essential reading for Africanists and Europeanists alike."— Christopher Hill, Wilson E. Schmidt Distinguished Professor of International Relations, SAIS Europe, Johns Hopkins University

"Anyone who wishes to know more about why European states and the European Union intervene in Africa should start with this book. Gegout provides a masterfully comprehensive account of European interventions in Africa in the post-Cold War era, and constructs an innovative theoretical framework to explain both interventions and non-interventions. Economic and security interests predominate but humanitarianism does not, while concerns about prestige are perhaps surprisingly relevant in numerous cases. Highly recommended reading."— Karen E. Smith, Professor International Relations, London School of Economics and Political Science

"This volume fills a significant gap in the literature on the foreign and security policies of the EU and its member states by providing an understanding of military interventions in Africa. In its combination of new conceptualisation and extended empirical work Why Europe Intervenes in Africa provides stimulating analysis alongside food for thought on the future basis for interventions."— Richard G. Whitman, Professor of Politics and International Relations, University of Kent

From the Publisher