Dr. Benedikt Erforth

• Benedikt Erforth

Data Extraction, Data Governance and Africa–Europe Cooperation

Africa's digital realm is rapidly evolving, with increasing regulatory frameworks emerging amidst diverse challenges. This contrasts with Europe’s established yet subtly influential digital governance landscape. The paper analyzes the dynamics of data regulation cooperation, advocating a non-paternalistic EU approach that embraces data sovereignty and a nuanced partnership strategy.

doi:10.18449/2024MTA-WP14

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• Benedikt Erforth
• Niels Keijzer

EU Parliament Elections: Impacts on Africa-EU Relations?

• German

The political landscape in Europe has shifted noticeably to the right as a result of the EU parliamentary elections. In this Megatrends Afrika Spotlight, Benedikt Erforth and Niels Keijzer (IDOS) shed light on the consequences this could have for EU-Africa relations. Despite a lack of innovations in the areas of migration and partnership, a continuation of previous policies seems more likely than significant changes.

• Megatrends Afrika

Joint Futures: Ideas for Germany’s Africa Policy

What does it mean to design a sustainable and effective Africa policy? How can Germany develop and rethink its relations with Africa? We addressed these questions in a dedicated blog series between September 2023 and February 2024: Joint Futures. This publication brings together all the contributions.

doi:10.18449/2024MTA-WP12

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• Benedikt Erforth
• Wolfram Lacher

Great Expectations, New Ideas, and Many Unanswered Questions: On the Conclusion of Joint Futures

• German

On the Joint Futures blog, German, European, and African authors addressed a variety of topics that are relevant to Germany’s Africa policy. Have we made the work on the new guidelines easier or more difficult? Here we take stock.

• 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

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