'Time to reset : ending the self-deception in Africa-Europe relations' with Prof Carlos Lopes

Forthcoming Event

Date
 12 June 2025, 5:00pm - 6:15pm
Registration Required

Location
 Oxford Martin School & Online
34 Broad Street (corner of Holywell and Catte Streets), Oxford, OX1 3BD

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The illusions that have long defined Africa-Europe relations are not just outdated—they are, Professor Carlos Lopes argues, actively harmful. As Africa repositions itself within a rapidly changing global order, clinging to legacy narratives only deepens inequality and missed opportunities.

This event, marking the presentation of a book already downloaded over 35,000 times, offers a candid critique of the misconceptions that continue to distort the relationship. Professor Lopes makes the case for a fundamental reset: one grounded in realism, mutual respect, and recognition of Africa’s growing agency. It is a call to move beyond comfort zones and face the hard truths needed to build authentic, future-oriented partnerships.

REGISTRATION


Carlos Lopes 2022

Professor Carlos Lopes
Former Visiting Fellow, Oxford Martin Programme on African Governance

Prof Carlos Lopes is an Honorary Professor at the Nelson Mandela School of Public Governance, University of Cape Town, Visiting Professor at Sciences Po, Paris, and Associate Fellow at Chatham House, London. He has been associated with several high-level boards, including the Global Commission for Economy and Climate, Global Commission for the Future of Work, Global Commission on the Geopolitics of Energy Transformation and the Commission on Illicit Financial Flows from Africa. He is a current member of the boards of Jakaya Kikwete Foundation, Hailemariam and Roman Foundation, the Graça Machel Trust, the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies, Geneva, the Global Advisory Board of the African Leadership Institute, Waterloo University International Advisory Board, Board member of Invest Africa, African Center for Cities Advisory Board, the Board of Directors of the World Resource Institute, Advisory Council of the African Climate Foundation, as well as Honorary Fellow of the African Academy of Sciences and Lifetime Member of the Lisbon Academy of Sciences.

Ricardo Soares De Oliveira

Professor Ricardo Soares de Oliveira (Chair)
Director, Oxford Martin Programme on African Governance

Ricardo Soares de Oliveira is Professor of the International Politics of Africa at the Department of Politics and International Relations, University of Oxford, Official Fellow of St Peter's College, and a Fellow with the Global Public Policy Institute, Berlin.

His research interests include African politics (particularly West and Central Africa), the geopolitics of energy and international political economy, especially in the fields of natural resource extraction, state decay and post-conflict reconstruction.


In-Person Registration

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