Power asymmetry between the European Union and Africa? A case study of the EU's relations with Ghana and Senegal

The EU's relationship with Africa is defined by power asymmetry, commonly characterised by a distribution of resources and capabilities across issue areas that almost always favour those at the top. Although asymmetry constrains weaker parties in identifying their preferences and the resources they can draw upon, in practise even in a situation of power asymmetry weaker actors can be successful in achieving their preferences. This thesis questions why some African countries have been able to exercise leverage and control vis-a-vis the EU despite power asymmetry. This question is answered through case studies of the EU's relations with Ghana and Senegal in three policy areas: aid, trade, and migration. The thesis adopts an empirical approach firstly to identify both parties' capacities and constraints in conducting relations, and secondly to establish the conditions under which African countries are able to fulfil their goals. As a foreign policy actor the EU faces institutional and political constraints which lead to gaps between policy rhetoric and practise, and between expectations and actual capabilities. This affects the EU's position vis-a-vis third parties and creates a disjunction between the EU's structural power and its actual bargaining power. Structurally weaker countries are able to influence the EU, firstly, because of how the perceptions they hold of the EU's constraints and capacities shape their own strategies, and secondly, because of the presence of certain contextual factors which favour or constrain the exercise of leverage and control. Senegal and Ghana are employed as case studies for the EU's relations with Africa. Although the socio-economic and political environment, the structural differences in power, and the EU's strategies are similar in both countries, Senegal has been more effective in promoting its interests than Ghana in relations with the EU. Senegal's perceptions of the EU's capabilities and constraints, the prevalence of 'ownership' and government 'control', and a strategic position have led to success in attaining its preferences and goals. Ghana's perceptions of apparent differences in structural power and mostly externally-driven policy processes have led it to adopt a more cooperative and consensual approach, weakening Ghana's ability to influence processes and outcomes vis-a-vis the EU. Leverage and control are therefore found in an actor's perception of its own power and that of others and in an environment where certain conditions favour weaker country influence, indicating that power is both relational and contextual

For-Know Repository: How can global trends be used in foresight? Expert workshop

The EU Policy Lab at the Joint Research Centre (JRC) of the European Commission (EC) organised a one-day workshop to pilot a foresight policy-engagement tool based on a set of global megatrends. The workshop was also used to gather the experience and good practice of foresight practitioners in engaging policy-makers and other stakeholders in long-term and systems-thinking processes. The workshop was held on 18 November 2016, at the EC premises, Rue Science 29, Brussels, Belgium, This report documents and illustrates the activities that took place during the workshop, taking stock of the results to support further development of the FOR-KNOW project, which aims to establish a repository of megatrends and a tool for using such trends in policy-making mainly at European level. As such, it does not describe all the insights captured during the workshop, Content gathered during the workshop will be further developed and ultimately feed the online format of the FOR-KNOW repository and other dissemination products of the project. The first section provides information about the JRC, the project itself and its policy context. The second and third sections present the workshop purpose, participants and an illustrated guide to the workshop process including the participants' feedback before we conclude in section four.JRC.I.2-Foresight, Behavioural Insights and Design for Polic

Gaps and challenges in the knowledge of migration and demography: Proposals for new approaches and solutions

This report is the result of the research carried out under Task 5 of DG JRC's Task Force on Migration and Demography. The report is structured following the four pillars outlined in the European Agenda on Migration. A few additional chapters are included to cover some aspects not explicitly touched on in the Agenda, but still considered to have a relevant role in migration and an impact on demographic trends. Contributions answered the following questions: 1. What are main points/findings/debates concerning the priority area/sub-category allocated to you? 2. How does the information gathered in question 1 relate to the scope and the structure of the European Agenda on Migration? 3. What current information and data is available, who is producing it and how? 4. What and where are the main gaps and challenges? 5. What are the solutions or approaches to address these gaps and challenges based upon your research? To complement this review, two Annexes were created: the first being an overview of the main gaps and challenges as well as the suggested solutions for the whole report (Annex 1), and the second being a preliminary inventory of available migration data and data sources (Annex 2).JRC.E.6-Demography, Migration and Governanc