The EU’s new security strategy, the Strategic Compass, aims to expedite security and defence cooperation in Europe. To do so, it embraces a variable geometry of cooperation and a pragmatic approach to institutional overlap. But can the EU deliver on these ambitious goals? Connected to broader debates on multilateral decision-making, modalities of international cooperation, andContinue reading “The War in Ukraine and Institutional Complexity in European Security: Situating the EU’s New Strategic Compass”
Analysis of African Union decisions from February 2022: Wicked challenges in AU funding and reform, but an increasing commitment to paying up on time
The African Union (AU) continued to grapple with implementing its important and difficult reforms also during the past year. While there is very welcome progress in particular in terms of decreasing arrears with assessed contributions, many reform projects face significant obstacles. Below, I summarize the Assembly and Executive Council decisions from January/February 2022 on AUContinue reading “Analysis of African Union decisions from February 2022: Wicked challenges in AU funding and reform, but an increasing commitment to paying up on time”
Policy brief: Overcoming APSA’s challenges through new approaches to collective security
Policy brief written for the Friedrich Ebert Stiftung’s rollout of the APSA 2040 scenario report on the future of the African Peace and Security Architecture. For two decades already, the African Peace and Security Architecture (APSA) has guided African and external stakeholders engagement for peace and security in Africa. Over time, a double crisis ofContinue reading “Policy brief: Overcoming APSA’s challenges through new approaches to collective security”
ECDPM Discussion Paper: Merging peace and politics: How will the African Union address the governance agenda?
Discussion paper for the European Centre for Development Cooperation Management (ECDPM), co-authored with Martin Ronceray and Lidet Tadesse Shiferaw. The merger of the African Union Commission’s Department of Peace and Security and its Department of Political Affairs is one of the most prominent changes that African Union (AU) reform has delivered. Subscribing to a globalContinue reading “ECDPM Discussion Paper: Merging peace and politics: How will the African Union address the governance agenda?”
AUDA-NEPAD: Does money and focus equal ownership and trade?
Read my blog post at ECDPM’s Talking Points blog with Bruce Byers, Head of the African Institutions and Regional Dynamics Programme at ECDPM. We discuss how infrastructure support of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) is a litmus for a new, focused AUDA-NEPAD.
How member states and partners impede the African Union’s quest for financial autonomy
This article with Frank Mattheis (ULB) outlines the challenges the AU has faced in working towards financial autonomy. Read it on The Conversation.
“Should I do a PhD?” Questions for prospective doctoral students in IR/political science
“Should I do a PhD?” Questions for prospective doctoral students in IR/political science After several conversations with future, current and past PhD students in my field, here is the list of honest questions prospective doctoral students can think about. Don’t let the critical nature of these questions distract you. With the right motivation, context andContinue reading ““Should I do a PhD?” Questions for prospective doctoral students in IR/political science”
ISA International Organization Section – Lawrence S. Finkelstein Prize
The International Studies Association’s International Organization Section has kindly awarded me the Lawrence S. Finkelstein Prize for Best Paper at the (cancelled) ISA Annual Conference 2020. The prize recognizes the best graduate student paper on international organizations. I submitted a paper drawing from my on-going doctoral dissertation on the financing and reforms of the AfricanContinue reading “ISA International Organization Section – Lawrence S. Finkelstein Prize”
Launch of the African Continental Free Trade Area
Africa’s new continental free trade area, the AfCFTA, is a remarkable achievement. However, decisive diplomatic, technical and social action is needed for it to succeed. Find my co-written article with Frank Mattheis on the challenges and achievements of the African Union’s new Continental Free Trade Area here: https://theconversation.com/more-work-lies-ahead-to-make-africas-new-free-trade-area-succeed-118135 A radio interview with SA FM’s BongiContinue reading “Launch of the African Continental Free Trade Area”
Journal article: Frame contestation and collective securitisation: the case of EU energy policy
Peer-reviewed article in West European Politics, written with Stephanie Hofmann, for a special issue on collective securitisation and the EU. Has the European Commission become an agent of collective securitisation in EU energy policy? We argue that EU energy policy has seen repeated collective and national securitisation moves directed in particular at Russian gas exportsContinue reading “Journal article: Frame contestation and collective securitisation: the case of EU energy policy”
Ueli Staeger 