Dr. Benedikt Erforth

• Benedikt Erforth
• Lena Gutheil

The BMZ’s new Africa Strategy: Self-Critical, Credible and Values-Based?

• German

The BMZ has presented its new Africa strategy. The strategy turns away from focussing on private sector development, our authors comment in this Megatrends Afrika Spotlight. It promises global structural policy and multilateral cooperation - and a more self-critical attitude towards development.

• Benedikt Erforth
• Anna Hörter
• Wolfram Lacher
• Lisa Tschörner

Megatrends and Conflict Dynamics in Africa: Multipolarity and Delegation in Foreign Interventions

Megatrends such as climate change, digitalisation, and urbanisation are transforming all aspects of politics, economics and society in Africa. Consequently, they are also affecting conflict dynamics. This Working Paper focuses specifically on how megatrends are altering patterns of foreign intervention in African conflicts. Two aspects stand out: the range of intervening powers is widening, and they are intervening increasingly at arm’s length by delegating to human or technical surrogates.

doi:10.18449/2022MTA-WP02

• Download (PDF) | 462 KB

• Benedikt Erforth
• Denis M. Tull

The failure of French Sahel policy: an opportunity for European cooperation?

• German

After nearly a decade of military intervention, France has withdrawn its soldiers from Mali. The departure not only symbolises a failure of French intervention policy, argue Benedikt Erforth (IDOS) and Denis Tull (SWP) in this Megatrends Afrika Spotlight, but also reflects Europe’s foreign policy weakness. Yet, a more muted French footprint could also be an opportunity to build a more balanced and credible approach towards the Sahel.

• Benedikt Erforth
• Lena Gutheil

Why we should talk about megatrends in Africa

• German

Megatrends have become ubiquitous phenomena in public policy debates. A thorough understanding of what this concept entails is often missing. We address this gap by unpacking the notion “megatrend” and tracing the significance it has for understanding the transformation of African societies.

• Benedikt Erforth
• Niels Keijzer

The AU-EU Summit: resetting the continent-to-continent partnership

• German