We Talk Africa’s Development – Eurafrica: The Untold History of European Integration and Colonialism скачать в хорошем качестве

We Talk Africa’s Development – Eurafrica: The Untold History of European Integration and Colonialism

In this episode, Jamie and Tom will be discussing the book "Eurafrica: The Untold History of European Integration and Colonialism" This book explores the little-known history of the Eurafrica project, a geopolitical concept that deeply influenced the construction of the European Union. It demonstrates how European integration, starting from the aftermath of World War I, was closely tied to African colonization and the exploitation of its resources. As Europe emerged ravaged, impoverished, and divided after World War I, a promising concept began circulating among the political and intellectual elites of the continent: Eurafrica. The idea was to make Africa the foundation of European unity, a vision championed by Richard Coudenhove-Kalergi, a leading figure in the Pan-European movement, along with many of his contemporaries during the interwar period. They argued that Europe's salvation depended on its ability to collectively exploit the wealth of its African colonies. In competition with the rising powers of America and Asia, Eurafrica was envisioned as a dominant force in global geopolitics. Although this Eurafrican project briefly aligned with fascist regimes, it was revived after 1945 and inspired the European "founding fathers," including Jean Monnet, Robert Schuman, Paul-Henri Spaak, and Konrad Adenauer. France, as the main colonial power in continental Europe, played a central role in these efforts. After setbacks in Indochina and Algeria, France clung to its African possessions, insisting that their inclusion in the European Common Market was a condition for participating in European integration. Peo Hansen and Stefan Jonsson examine this often-overlooked aspect of European history. They provide a fresh analysis of the negotiations leading to the signing of the Treaty of Rome in 1957, revealing the colonial roots of the European Union. The book traces the development of the Eurafrica idea, from its origins in Pan-European movements between the wars to its concrete implementation after World War II. The authors highlight how European powers, particularly France, used African colonization to consolidate their power and pursue economic and geopolitical ambitions, especially in the context of the Cold War. The book scrutinizes the negotiations that led to the creation of the European Economic Community (EEC), during which France demanded the inclusion of its colonial territories in the Common Market. This demand was driven by France’s desire to maintain control over Africa and benefit from its resources while preserving its geopolitical influence in a rapidly changing world. The conclusion of the book emphasizes how the history of European integration has largely ignored the importance of the Eurafrica project to present the European Union as free from its colonial past. The authors encourage a more critical examination of the EU’s history, revealing its deep ties to African colonization and the construction of a Europe-dominated global order. Powerded by NotebookLM