28/08/2017
The Sahel connects to the north with the socio-political spaces of the Maghreb and with Black Africa to the south. The former, are still under the destabilizing effects of the Arab revolutions and the second, is emerging as the world energy reserve for the twenty-first century. Because of this, the Sahelian region acquires a growing centrality in all aspects. Maghreb and Western Sahel, analyzed as a geopolitical unit, constitute a priority area of action for the European Union. However, Member States still refuse to endow with muscle to their CSDP (Common Security and Defense Policy), which undermines the credibility of the Union as a global actor. The Malian crisis is a textbook case of the new type of intrastate and internationalized armed conflict distinctive of the Post-Cold War era. Therefore, it serves as a reference to study the underlying causes of this kind of conflict. On the other hand, the scenario offers a window of opportunity for the Union to reinforce its positions in the volatile international scene of the first quarter of the 21st century.
Author: Francisco Javier Quiñones de la Iglesia
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