The European Union and democracy promotion The European Union has political external relations based on the liberal assumption that extending the ‘area of democratic peace’ benefits global politics because it provides increased stability and better relations which have positive consequences on trade and on the solution of global problems. Democracy promotion has been central to the EU relations with the Arab world for almost twenty years. –The Euro-Mediterranean Partnership, a.k.a. the Barcelona process launched in Three pillars: economic cooperation (creation of a free trade area), political co-operation to promote human rights and civil society activism, and cultural cooperation.

The policy in practice Very little has been achieved in terms of democracy promotion in the region and the Arab Spring is far from being the outcome of EU policies: quite the contrary. Reasons for the failure: –Poor policy coordination –Member states interests vs. EU interests –Conflicting objectives –Ability of targeted regimes to resist democratization. –Massive ethical contradiction at the heart of the policy.

Democracy promotion For a long time the international community has had doubts over the effective promotion of democracy in the Arab world because the potential beneficiaries were held to illiberal and anti-democratic. Same as US position –One man, one vote, one time. The Arab Spring came as a surprise for the international community and constituted a major policy dilemma. –No Islamists at the forefront of the protests, no religious slogans….it seems like a liberal wave of uprisings. The initial positive reaction has turned to suspicion after the electoral victories of the Islamists (A. Teti). –What if the beneficiaries of democracy do not like us?

The pillars of democracy promotion Promoting free trade. –It is precisely the opening up of Arab economies that has led to the uprisings. Growing unemployment, corruption and unfair Association Agreements. Promoting a human rights culture and political ties. –Is it possible to promote such a culture through the institutions of the authoritarian states? Promoting regional stability. –If authoritarian leaders guarantee stability, how genuine is democracy promotion?

The Arab Spring At first, the EU is not keen in supporting the protests because they would undermine stability although the demonstrators demand democracy. The EU follows the French lead… Later, the uprisings are supported because what seems to emerge is a discourse of liberal- democracy that the EU likes. Now with Islamists in power there are second- thoughts…