Decolonization by Europeanization? The early EEC and the transformation of French-African relations

“Françafrique”, “Francophonie”, “l’état franco-africain” and “Mafiafrique” – all these terms are commonly used if one comes to talk about French-African relations after the severing of colonial ties in 1960. Even though they bear slightly different meanings, they share the notion of a very close, stable, and continuous if not to say colonially-styled relationship. According to the relevant literat…