"The transformative power of Europe" beyond enlargement: the EU's performance in promoting democracy in its neighbourhood*. Issue 1 (2nd January 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Börzel, Tanja A.; Lebanidze, Bidzina
• Is Part Of: East European politics. Volume 33:Issue 1(2017)
• Page Start: 17
• Page End: 35
• Publication Date: 2017-01-02
• Subjects: Conditionality -- European Neighbourhood Policy -- differential empowerment -- democracy -- governance effectiveness; Post-communism -- Periodicals; Europe, Eastern -- Politics and government -- Periodicals; 320.94705
• DOI: 10.1080/21599165.2017.1280473
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2159-9165

Abstract

ABSTRACT: This paper argues that the European Union's (EU) performance in promoting democracy in its neighbourhood is not only compromised by the lack of a membership perspective but the selective sanctioning of non-compliance with democracy standards caused by conflicting foreign policy objectives. We identify two conditions for the EU's consistent application of democratic conditionality: the absence of a stability-democratisation dilemma and the presence of pro-democratic reform coalitions. If neither of these conditions is present, the EU is more likely to act as a status-quo than a transformative power prioritising (authoritarian) stability over uncertain (democratic) change.