Négocier sans y croire : les défis des relations Europe-Afrique (1) - Carlos Lopes (2025-2026)

The lecture provides a compelling and intellectually rigorous analysis of the cognitive dimensions of Africa-Europe relations. Carlos Lopes, with his extensive experience in international negotiations and academia, offers a nuanced perspective that goes beyond conventional diplomatic discourse. He effectively uses postcolonial theory to explain the persistence of hierarchical mental frameworks, citing influential thinkers such as Fanon, Cabral, Diagne, and Mudimbe. The argument that coloniality has shifted from explicit ideology to implicit ‘infrastructure of cognition’ is well-articulated and supported with concrete examples like the EU’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) and migration policies. Lopes’s critique of technocratic governance as a new form of hierarchy is particularly insightful, as it highlights how power operates through standards and certification rather than direct command. However, the lecture is primarily an expert opinion and lacks systematic empirical evidence or references to specific data. While it draws on a wide range of scholarly works, it does not provide detailed citations or engage with counterarguments. The discussion of CBAM, for instance, could benefit from a more nuanced analysis of its environmental objectives. Additionally, the lecture’s focus on cognitive asymmetry may overlook material and economic factors that also shape Africa-Europe relations. Nevertheless, the lecture is thought-provoking and contributes to a deeper understanding of the psychological and cultural barriers to equitable partnerships. The title accurately reflects the content, and the speaker’s authority enhances the credibility of the arguments. Overall, the lecture is of high quality, but its reliance on theoretical frameworks and personal insights rather than empirical data slightly limits its scientific rigor.

The title accurately reflects the content: the lecture focuses on the mental and cognitive barriers to Africa-Europe relations, emphasizing the lack of belief in symmetry.

8/10

The lecture is delivered by a highly qualified expert (Carlos Lopes) with extensive experience in Africa-Europe relations. The content is well-structured, references multiple scholars (Fanon, Cabral, Mudimbe, etc.) and provides concrete examples (CBAM, migration policies). However, it is an opinion-based lecture without systematic citations or empirical data, which slightly reduces the score.

Markers derived by PSI from the transcript: the creator did not define chapters.

• 00:00Introduction by the Collège de France, presentation of Carlos Lopes and the lecture series.
• 03:00Carlos Lopes begins his lecture, stating the theme: 'La décolonisation mentale tarde à venir'.
• 10:00Discussion on the persistence of colonial mental structures despite political independence.
• 20:00Reference to thinkers like Souleymane Bachir Diagne and Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o on linguistic and cognitive dispossession.
• 30:00Analysis of the EU's Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) as an example of technocratic hierarchy.
• 40:00Discussion on migration externalization policies as asymmetric delegation.
• 45:00Conclusion: decolonization stagnates due to inertia of the evident, not hostility.

• Collège de France - Conférence page — Official page for the lecture series, providing description and context.
• Collège de France - Cycle Europe — Overview of the Europe cycle of conferences at the Collège de France.
• Samantha Besson - Chair of International Law of Institutions — Information about the chair holder who invited Carlos Lopes.

• Collège de France - Cycle Europe — The lecture is part of this cycle, which aims to foster reflection on Europe's role in the world.

• www.fondation-cdf.fr
• fr.linkedin.com
• www.threads.net
• youtube.com