The European Union and the Promotion of Democracy : Europe's Mediterranean and Asian Policies

Description

This book assesses European Union policies aimed at encouraging democratization in East Asia and the Mediterranean, addressing theoretical debates over the international dimensions of political change and the EU's characteristics as an international actor. The factors driving and inhibiting European democracy promotion policies are explored, and the EU's distinctive 'bottom-up' approach to political change is outlined. The book notes an evolution in European policies, while arguingthat the EU has failed to develop a fully comprehensive and coherent democracy promotion strategy. -;This book assesses European Union policies aimed at encouraging democratization in East Asia and the North African and Middle Eastern States within the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership - these two regions being the source of some of the strongest conceptual challenges to 'Western' liberal democracy since the end of the cold war. The book addresses theoretical debates over the international dimensions of political change and the EU's characteristics as an international actor. The factors both driving and inhibiting European democracy promotion policies are explored. The book outlines the EU's distinctive bottom-up philosophy, aimed at constructing the socio-economic and ideational foundations for political liberalization, but argues that the EU has in practice failed to develop a fully comprehensive and coherent democracy promotion strategy.