Click the star to add/remove an item to/from your individual schedule.
You need to be logged in to avail of this functionality.

P009


The European Union in Africa: human security and crisis management 
Convenor:
Ana Isabel Xavier (Minho University, Portugal)
Send message to Convenor
Location:
C2.05
Start time:
29 June, 2013 at
Time zone: Europe/Lisbon
Session slots:
2

Short Abstract:

This panel aims to discuss the European Union as a human security and crisis management actor, through the military and civilian missions conducted by the EU in Africa since 2005, highlighting lessons learned and future scenarios for international security.

Long Abstract:

In the mid-twentieth century, a profound change took place in how security was studied in the academic literature, as well as in the way it is conceptualized and designed by strategic culture and praxis of the States and International Organisations. In that sense, a necessary interdependence has gradually taken shape between State security and safety of individuals and communities to respond effectively to the new transnational threats. One of the concepts associated with this approach is Human Security (HS). Even if a common definition has not yet been mainstreamed for member states or International Organisations external action, it is a core concept of the current academic debate within critical security studies, privileging individuals and communities.

Hence, the purpose of this panel is to contribute to a broader discussion with some critical insights on how the EU, as a crisis management actor in Africa, has been developing a strategic culture based on civil and military capabilities, according to the main values and principles of the concept of Human Security: comprehensive approach, bottom up approach, peace, human rights, good governance, basic freedoms, gender equality, sustainable development, civilian and military coordination, state building, intelligence gathering, long term development, empowerment, ownership, effective multilateralism, people centred approach....

For that purpose, we will look at the ongoing EU crisis management missions in Africa, questioning the EU's current role and highlighting lessons learned and future scenarios in the region and for international security.

Accepted papers:

Session 1