Description
The Sahel region, characterized by its vast expanse and complex security challenges including various armed insurgencies, has become a focal point for the European Union (EU) in recent years. This has given rise to what is known as the “Brussels' Effect” — a phenomenon where the EU's policies and actions have a significant impact far beyond its geographical borders. In their efforts to address the challenges of migration, terrorism, and instability, the European Union and EU member states have undertaken a multitude of interventions in these emerging borderlands. While officially adopting a comprehensive approach, the EU primarily emphasizes the enhancement of state capacity through bolstering security forces, curbing insurgency, and fortifying Sahelian state's borders.
Incorporating theories of empire and delving into the historical significance of borderlands, the paper scrutinizes the relationship between the European Union (EU) and the Sahel region. Emphasizing the dynamics of centre-periphery interactions, it explores the conflicts that arise from the convergence of imperial power and the marginalized regions. Furthermore, through an examination of evidence from Niger and Mali, the paper evaluates the effects of the EU's post-liberal state-building endeavours on statehood and violent conflict in these borderland areas.
