The current research of Véronique Dimier explores the role of former colonial officials in designing the institution of the
European Economic Community (EEC) responsible for implementing development aid programs in African countries (Directorate General 8 of
the European Commission) as well as their long term influence over this institution. Borrowing hypotheses from sociological,
neo-institutionalist approaches and from the emerging research agenda on international organizations as bureaucratic entities, it
analyses the creation of a multinational institution, as well as its maintenance and evolution over forty years. It focuses not only on
patterns of creation, evolving social structure and organizational changes of said structure; but also on the way these elements
affect its missions, policies, and types of public action. Through its interdisciplinary approach, this research seeks to break
with the tradition of the 'disciplinary empires' of history, political science and sociology, and in so doing, bridges the gap
between fields which rarely meet: European policies and post-colonial studies.