dc.contributor.author |
Skaar, Kristian Aagård, |
dc.date |
2013 |
dc.date.accessioned |
2015-02-03T10:47:04Z |
dc.date.available |
2015-02-03T10:47:04Z |
dc.date.issued |
2013 |
dc.date.submitted |
2013 |
dc.identifier.other |
b17927985 |
dc.identifier.uri |
http://hdl.handle.net/10938/9902 |
dc.description |
Thesis (M.A.)-- American University of Beirut, Department of Political Studies and Public Administration, 2013. |
dc.description |
Advisor : Dr. Coralie Hindawi, Assistant Professor, Political Studies and Public Administration ; Committee Members : Dr. Danyel Reiche, Assistant Professor, Political Studies and Public Administration ; Dr. Waleed Hazbun, Associate Professor, Political Studies and Public Administration. |
dc.description |
Includes bibliographical references (leaves 134-139) |
dc.description.abstract |
Human Security received considerable attention after the UN coined it in the early 1990s. The notion of prioritizing the security, safety, and the well being of people over states gained popularity by states and international organizations in a changing security environment in the post-Cold War period. One of the organizations that seemed to be receptive to this new security and development approach was the European Union (EU). At the same time, the EU was in the process of establishing a narrative based on values such as human rights, the rule of law, and good governance, in order to carve out its own place in the international society. While many have praised human security and the EU, the concept has fallen under criticism for being too fluid and difficult to put into practice. The EU has also come under fire for contradicting their official narrative. Hence, this thesis explores the position of human security in the EU’s foreign political framework and to what extent the concept is a viable political strategy in international relations. Based on the EU’s relation to the Mediterranean region and, in particular, to the former Ben Ali regime in Tunisia, the thesis shows how the Union’s gradual integration of human security in its security and development strategy papers during the 2000s fails to translate to any change on the ground. Therefore, in contradiction to official policies, the EU prioritizes issues such as international terrorism and illegal immigration, and ends up supporting authoritarian regimes and impeding any democratic and human rights reform currents in countries such as Tunisia. Thereby, the thesis highlights that these double standards were exposed as the Arab uprisings broke out in December 2010. |
dc.format.extent |
x, 139 leaves ; 30 cm |
dc.language.iso |
eng |
dc.relation.ispartof |
Theses, Dissertations, and Projects |
dc.subject.classification |
T:005947 AUBNO |
dc.subject.lcsh |
European Union. |
dc.subject.lcsh |
Security, International. |
dc.subject.lcsh |
Arab Spring, 2010- |
dc.subject.lcsh |
International relations. |
dc.subject.lcsh |
European Union countries -- Foreign relations -- Mediterranean Region. |
dc.subject.lcsh |
Mediterranean Region -- Foreign relations -- European Union countries. |
dc.subject.lcsh |
European Union countries -- Foreign relations -- Tunisia. |
dc.subject.lcsh |
Tunisia -- Foreign relations -- European Union cou |
dc.title |
The European Union as a “Force for Good”? :assessing the influence of human security in EU’s foreign policy and the union’s role in the Mediterranean region up to the Arab uprisings - |
dc.type |
Thesis |
dc.contributor.department |
American University of Beirut. Faculty of Arts and Sciences. Department of Political Studies and Public Administration. |