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 -

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.