review
Christian Jakob and Simone Schlindwein’s book is the product of years of meticulous research and offers an even-handed presentation of the latest positions in European and African politics.
European policies towards border-control are inextricably bound up with the politics of its neighbouring continent, Africa. This collection of hard-hitting journalistic essays examines decisions taken by African rulers on the one hand and EU leaders on the other. The book focuses on the mass of desperate African migrants seeking entry into Europe, and on the attempts of European powers to create conditions in Africa that will encourage its inhabitants to ‘stay at home’. The massive funds transferred for this purpose by the EU provide little benefit for their intended recipients and are largely diverted on various pretexts to the dictators. The authors provide a detailed analysis of European-African relations, with case studies focusing on particular countries, and examine key issues such as trade relationships, the influence of technology on national borders and the socio-political significance of the Mediterranean.
This informative book is a timely contribution to the global debate about migration and will provoke much discussion.
All recommendations from Spring 2018