Research seminar information
Time: Monday, 9.6.2025, 13:00-14:00 (UTC +3 / Helsinki time)
Place: Room 247 (2nd floor), Unioninkatu 33 (inner courtyard), you can also join in by Zoom, Passcode: 791038
You are warmly welcome to also join us for a reading group on Prof Lopes' book, organized at 10:00-11:30 AM, June 9th.
This is the concluding seminar in the EuroStorie spring seminar series "Europe and its Others".
Abstract
In this public seminar, Carlos Lopes will give a lecture on his latest book titled The Self-Deception Trap: Exploring the Economic Dimensions of Charity Dependency within Africa-Europe Relations. This book examines the economic relationship between Africa and Europe. It highlights the stigmatized narratives about Africa and analyses how they influence a range of key actors and processes. This is illustrated by the actions of European actors who reinforce negative narratives through replacing real economic transformation and development with charity, while African leaders compete to maximize aid donations and help further these narratives.
This book acknowledges the complex history of the relations between Africa and Europe and details the ways in which Africa has become a peripheral player in the world economy. It will be relevant to researchers and policymakers interested in development and African economics.
About the speaker
Carlos Lopes is a Professor at the Mandela School of Public Governance, University of Cape Town and Affiliate Professor at Sciences Po, Paris. He has occupied important leadership positions across the United Nations, the African Union, and academic institutions, including policy director for Secretary-General Kofi Annan, executive secretary of the UN Economic Commission for Africa and African Union High Representative for Partnerships with Europe.