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Global (in) security: the European neighbourhood policy - the European Union as conflict manager

Geiselhart, Christiane (2010) Global (in) security: the European neighbourhood policy - the European Union as conflict manager.

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Abstract:This Bachelor Thesis deals with the research area of global (in)security, and within this area with the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) as an instrument of EU Foreign Policy to manage conflicts in its neighbourhood. It is assumed that for strengthening global security, individual conflict laden countries need to be stabilized. The EU tries to achieve this with the help of its ENP. However, it is found out that in some ENP countries EU influence is stronger than in others. Hence, the research question addressed in this thesis is: Why is the European Union influence stronger in the conflict management of some members of the European Neighbourhood Policy than in the conflict management of others? Conflict management as a superordinate concept for conflict prevention and resolution, requiring to stabilize the country economically, socially and politically. With the help of the external incentive model established by Schimmelfennig and Sedelmeier in 2004 and the complex interdependence theory of Keohane and Nye from 1977, it is hypothesized that in ENP countries where the cooperation with the EU implies high benefits, EU influence tends to be strong whereas in ENP countries where cooperation with the EU implies low benefits, EU influence tends to be weak. A comparative analysis of the cases Georgia, Ukraine and Belarus confirms the hypothesis tentatively. Important factors determining whether the countries attach high value to the benefits of EU cooperation and hence determining the strength of EU influence in the respective country, are the economic power vis-à-vis the EU, i.e. the economic dependency on the EU, dissatisfaction among the citizens, and the presence of democratic values. Moreover, Russian influence crystallized itself as possible determinant factor.
Item Type:Essay (Bachelor)
Faculty:BMS: Behavioural, Management and Social Sciences
Subject:88 social and public administration
Programme:European Studies BSc (56627)
Link to this item:https://purl.utwente.nl/essays/60289
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