Abstract
Embedded in the Normative Power Europe framework, this chapter first identifies three critical junctures that are essential to understanding the approach the EU has developed with regard to its external democratization agenda: (i) the end of the Cold War, (ii) the 2004 EU enlargement to the East, and (iii) the events surrounding the Arab Spring in conjunction with the European economic crisis. Next, the chapter delineates four main dimensions of the contemporary EU approach to external democratization: direct programs and instruments, the indirect economic approach, international and regional coordinating approaches, and a multilevel approach with the member states.
The authors would like to thank Hester Mostert, MA student in the department of International Relations and International Organization at the University of Groningen, for her careful research assistance and diligence in the preparation of this chapter.
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Notes
- 1.
While this chapter is predominantly concerned with the promotion of democracy and democratic principles abroad, at times it becomes impossible to distinguish the EU’s policy within this domain from the closely intertwined and supplementary policy of human rights promotion. Particularly in the beginnings of the EU’s external democratization efforts, these two were often treated as one, which is duly recognized in this chapter.
- 2.
Note that, for instance, the 1957 Treaty of Rome establishing the European Economic Community does not once mention human rights, democracy, or good governance. The term “rule of law” is referred to only once, in relation to discussing the ECJ’s jurisdiction (European Commission 1957).
- 3.
There are, however, a few exceptions to this, which stem from the fact that from 1970 onwards, the European Communities began to develop somewhat of a foreign policy dimension in the form of the European Political Cooperation (EPC). While in general a rather weak instrument to coordinate foreign policy between the EC member states, some have pointed out that at times the EPC succeeded in recording some headway in promoting human rights and democratization, particularly during the Euro-Arab dialogue after 1975 and during the negotiations of the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe (CSCE) (Harryvan and van der Harst 2004, pp. 160–62).
- 4.
It is this distinction between the European Union’s attempt to shape the democratic normal as part of its enlargement and foreign policies that has preoccupied scholars discussing the European Union’s normative power. Most scholars agree that the lack of a concrete membership perspective severely inhibits the EU’s normative power, which the EU should duly realize, adjusting its norm diffusion mechanisms accordingly (Haukkala 2008).
- 5.
Such a statement stands in stark contrast to statements on promoting democracy made earlier on. For instance, in what we call the period of “normative optimism” above, the European Union would link its democracy promotion to the development of the third country, primarily for the sake of delivering human rights, peace, and stability to the population of the third country. The European Union’s member states – and their respective societies – were considered only second (Ferrero-Waldner 2006).
- 6.
While we predominantly focus on the EU’s efforts related to promoting democracy, it at times becomes difficult to separate these from the EU’s efforts to promote human rights and/or good governance. Due to these concepts being greatly intertwined, the EU at times approaches them jointly. We will duly acknowledge when this is the case.
- 7.
NGO Law Monitor: Ethiopia, available at: http://www.icnl.org/research/monitor/ethiopia.html, accessed May 20, 2016
- 8.
The European Union’s Relations with the Council of Europe, available at: http://www.coe.int/t/der/EU_en.asp, accessed May 25, 2016.
- 9.
OSCE & EU, available at: http://eeas.europa.eu/delegations/vienna/eu_osce/index_en.htm, accessed May 20, 2016.
- 10.
The European Union, available at: http://www.osce.org/networks/111481, accessed May 20, 2016.
- 11.
Foreign & Security Policy, available at: http://europa.eu/pol/cfsp/index_en.htm, accessed May 15, 2016.
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Holzhacker, R., Neuman, M. (2019). Framing the Debate: The Evolution of the European Union as an External Democratization Actor. In: Neuman, M. (eds) Democracy Promotion and the Normative Power Europe Framework. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-92690-2_2
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