Several years after Harvard Professor Niall Ferguson coined the term "Chimerica," European scholars developed the ideology of Eurafrica, which calls for greater cooperation between Europe and Africa to contend against the dominant global influence of Chimerica.

In fact, Chimerica has been a controversial idea since it came into being, and even Ferguson himself admitted that Chimerica would soon unravel. Although the feasibility of Eurafrica remains to be seen, the ideology has exposed the complex attitudes and some faulty beliefs of the European people.

The ideology of Eurafrica shows that Europe is increasingly feeling unsafe, and is eager to find a partner to create a counterweight to Chimerica. It has also exposed the paranoid and suspicious thoughts of certain European people.

Many Europeans are worried that China and the United States may further strengthen cooperation and jointly dominate the world some day, which may greatly reduce the global influence of Europe. More specifically, they are worried that as the two countries steadily increase their influence in Africa, the existing European sphere of influence on the continent may gradually shrink. Lack of confidence has aggravated Europeans' anxieties and reduced their trust in the United States, the traditional ally of Europe.

Some Europeans insist on regarding Africa as their monopolized "manor," and their thoughts seem to be still stuck in the colonial period. Today's Africa is active in expanding ties with the world's major powers and building up various types of cooperation mechanisms with them, so Africa is no longer considered Europe's "backyard."

It is reasonable for Europe to use Africa to reinforce its status in the world, and yet it has gone too far to forcefully draw Africa into its small exclusive circle. This will make African countries lose the opportunity to comprehensively cooperate with the outer world. In essence, Europe aims to isolate rather than unite Africa.

Although Europe maintains countless links to Africa in terms of geopolitics, history, culture, language and religion, it is irrational for it to build up the "Eurafrica." Equality, respect and mutual benefit are the preconditions for "integration," which are just what the Europe-Africa relations lack.