LESSONS LEARNED FROM STRATEGIC TRADE CONTROL ENFORCEMENT CAPACITY BUILDING IN WESTERN AFRICA

Can export control systems be shaped according to universal or regional models? Recent experiences of strategic trade control enforcement training in Western Africa was the occasions to get hints about the answer to this question, at least for the enforcement aspects of it. Enforcement is one of the most challenging aspects of export control, even in the so-called developed countries. It is legitimate to seek models which can be exported to help building capacity in countries where they don’t exist yet, but it requires three conditions at least: good models must exist, they must be suitable to the local context and they must be transferable (i.e. the elements of the model can be built or provided via assistance programs). We will see that these conditions are difficult to fulfil when it comes to export control enforcement in a context like Western Africa. However, talking about export control enforcement models may be looking at it from the wrong angle. As often, taking a broader perspective and thinking out of the export control and non-proliferation box may help. Export control enforcement is not only about export control, it is also about enforcement. Models from other enforcement subjects than export control may exist, be suitable and be transferable.

CHATELUS Renaud; 

2015-01-21

P.I.E. Peter Lang S.A.

JRC90656

978-2-87574-203-2 (print),   

1377-0608,