The European Union and Democracy Promotion

A Critical Global Assessment

Richard Youngs editor

Format:Hardback

Publisher:Johns Hopkins University Press

Published:29th Oct '10

Currently unavailable, and unfortunately no date known when it will be back

The European Union and Democracy Promotion cover

A rare cross-regional analysis, this book is a potentially important corrective to the dominant view of EU foreign policy in the area of democracy promotion. -- Lucan A. Way, University of Toronto

Designed to spur debate on how to incorporate democracy and human rights initiatives into the mainstream foreign policy of the EU and its member states, this study challenges the standard view that the EU has established itself as a distinctive normative power.The European Union has made firm commitments to democratic reforms and human rights initiatives around the world. This volume examines and evaluates the efficacy of these efforts. Individual case studies review the background and discuss the current state of initiatives in Eastern Europe, the Balkans, the Ukraine, Central Asia, Morocco, Iraq and the Persian Gulf, and Nigeria. The contributors identify lessons from each instance and offer concrete policy recommendations for strengthening the EU's efforts to promote democracy. Together, these assessments show that EU member states are less invested in promoting political change in third world nations, suggesting that the EU is failing to live up to its ideals. Designed to spur debate on how to incorporate democracy and human rights initiatives into the mainstream foreign policy of the EU and its member states, this study challenges the standard view that the EU has established itself as a distinctive normative power.

The individual chapters are clearly written and well structured, offering a wealth of information and sound analyses of recent developments, and discussing the shortcomings of the theoretical frameworks employed to date to understand Europe's failure to make the promotion of democratic values the cornerstone of its foreign policy. Choice This book can be used as a handbook for political science students in order to have a better understanding of the European Union's commitment to democratisation attempts around the world. -- Nihan Akincilar Political Studies Review

  • Winner of IPSA Charles H. Levine Memorial Book Prize 2011 (United States)

ISBN: 9780801897320

Dimensions: 229mm x 152mm x 20mm

Weight: 431g

216 pages