AbstractsPolitical Science

The European Union is a major benefactor for development aid to the African countries in the ACP. This aid has traditionally been tied to conditionalities that are set to secure the imposing of certain values. Over the last 10 years, China has also become a major player in the African continent through increased Sino-African cooperation. This investigation utilises the theories of Normative Power Europe and Imperial Power Europe through a deductive mode of research. It draws upon content analyses of official EU-documents and scholarly articles in an analytical discussion of how the EU’s development approach is challenged by China and what position that leaves the EU in. This paper concludes that China’s involvement in the African countries in the ACP challenges the EU’s development approach on several aspects, and leaves the Union in a position where a rethinking of the development approach is necessary. Advisors/Committee Members: Chatzopoulou, Sevasti (advisor).