Britain and Africa: heading for the Brexit rocks

Dirk Kohnert

MPRA Paper from University Library of Munich, Germany

Abstract: High-flying illusions on the part of the proponents and grim predictions of the sceptics characterize the controversy about Brexit. The article analyses five issues at stake for the Post-Brexit relationships between Britain, the EU and Africa with a focus on the Commonwealth Sub-Saharan Africa: market access, FDI, aid, security and partnership . The British government’s vision of a ‘Global Britain’ relies heavily on a reinforced co-operation with Commonwealth nations. However, most likely this would be possible only at the expense of the poor in Africa and elsewhere. Concerning security cooperation with Africa, London apparently exaggerated its defence input in order to enhance its bargaining position with the EU. It will be crucial for both the EU and UK to find post-Brexit agreements to stem irregular migration and the growth of jihadist groups and terrorism. In a nutshell, the analysis of these different policy field shows that expectations of Brexiteers and African politicians alike concerning an enhanced, partner-like Post-Brexit Commonwealth relationship are largely unfounded.

Keywords: UK; Brexit; EU; Africa; international trade; tariffs; aid; security; partnership (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: F13 F2 F3 F35 F63 G15 G2 H26 N47 N77 O17 P16 Z1 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2018-08-20, Revised 2018-08-21
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-int
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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Working Paper: Britain and Africa: heading for the Brexit rocks (2018)
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:pra:mprapa:88570

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