Dr. Karoline Eickhoff

• Christine Hackenesch
• Tobias Heidland
• Denis M. Tull (eds.)

Leverage and Limits: What African Actors Make of the New Multipolarity

Africa is entering a new era of multipolarity, with global powers competing to become key partners to the continent. This study analyses the different facets of multipolarity and how African actors respond to both opportunities and constraints arising from the growing interest of foreign actors.

doi:10.18449/2025MTA-WP21

• Download (PDF) | 2.0 MB

• Karoline Eickhoff

Africa’s Place on the World Map

• German

World maps are not neutral and marginalize Africa, says the “Correct the Map” campaign. The European side should therefore review its map materials ahead of the European Union-African Union summit in November, argues Karoline Eickhoff in this Spotlight.

• Karoline Eickhoff

Crisis of Debt or Crisis of Confidence? Kenya’s Contested Fiscal Outlook

Kenya is facing not only a debt crisis, but a deeper crisis of public trust. In this policy brief, Karoline Eickhoff contrasts official narratives that blame external shocks with public concerns over corruption and mismanagement, and outlines implications for international actors.

doi:10.18449/2025MTA-PB41

• Download (PDF) | 365 KB

• Karoline Eickhoff
• Ueli Staeger

Coming to Terms with the Past? Reparations as a Test for Africa-Europe Relations

The African Union has chosen “Reparations” as its theme for 2025. Although the colonial past is a sensitive issue in Africa-Europe relations, this could also be an opportunity for both sides to address historical blind spots, argue Karoline Eickhoff and Ueli Staeger in this spotlight.

• Karoline Eickhoff
• Paul Bochtler
• Hesbon Hansen Owilla

Communicating Strategically about What? Europe and China in the Kenyan Media

European actors are increasingly relying on strategic communication tools in their external relations, especially in key partner countries like Kenya. Based on a large-scale media screening and interviews with media experts, this paper examines which issues related to the EU/Europe and China have received the most media coverage in Kenya over the past decade (2013–2023). The paper finds, among other things, that European actors involved in communication efforts increasingly need to communicate about the EU’s role in global affairs and the impact of European decisions, products, and standards on African markets, without resorting to a “West versus China” framing.

doi:10.18449/2024MTA-PB27

• Download (PDF) | 827 KB

• Karoline Eickhoff

Ahead of the FOCAC 2024: How to Deal with China in Africa?

• German

In the run-up to the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) 2024, many eyes are on China's growing influence in Africa. “What is the European dilemma in dealing with China in Africa?” asks Karoline Eickhoff in this Spotlight, which offers suggestions for dealing with competitive dynamics.