EU Soft Power in Lusophone Africa Amidst the Chinese Challenge: Delving into the Erasmus Programme in Angola and Cabo Verde

Ferreira-Pereira, L. C., & Mourato Pinto, J. (2024). EU Soft Power in Lusophone Africa Amidst the Chinese Challenge: Delving into the Erasmus Programme in Angola and Cabo Verde. In The Palgrave Handbook on China-Europe-Africa Relations (pp. 697–724). Springer Nature Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-97-5640-7_34 This episode examines the role of the Erasmus+ program as a soft power tool for the European Union (EU) in Africa, focusing on Angola and Cape Verde. Soft power refers to the ability to influence others through persuasion rather than coercion. The EU leverages higher education to enhance its global influence, with Erasmus+ evolving from a domestic initiative into an external policy instrument promoting European values. China's growing presence in Africa, with its debt-dependent investment model, challenges EU influence. In response, the EU launched the Global Gateway initiative, fostering value-based cooperation. While historically tied to Africa through colonialism, the EU has transitioned from being the continent's largest donor to building partnerships of equals. Erasmus+ plays a key role by fostering student and academic mobility and supporting capacity-building projects. The episode discusses Erasmus+ milestones, its impact on African education, and its specific contributions in Angola and Cape Verde. Despite challenges, the program strengthens EU-Africa relations, countering China's influence and promoting democratic cooperation.