The European Union’s Democracy Promotion in Central Asia : A Study of Political Interests, Influence, and Development in Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan in 2007–2013 / Aijan Sharshenova, Andreas Umland, Gordon Crawford

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Sharshenova, Aijan, Author.

Contributor:

Umland, Andreas, Editor.

Crawford, Gordon, Author of introduction, etc.

Series:

Soviet and post-Soviet politics and society ; Volume 180.

Soviet and Post-Soviet Politics and Society 180

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

European Union.

Central Asia.

Eastern Europe.

Local Subjects:

European Union.

Central Asia.

Eastern Europe.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (281 pages) : illustrations.

Edition:

1st ed.

Place of Publication:

Hannover ibidem 2018

Biography/History:

The author: Dr. Aijan Sharshenova studied political science and international relations at the Centre International de Formation Européenne and the Institut für Europäische Politik at Berlin, and University of Leeds, UK. She has worked for the Middle East and North Africa Office of the International Peace Institute at Manama, Kingdom of Bahrain, as well as in democracy and development assistance projects in Kyrgyzstan. The author of the foreword: Dr. Gordon Crawford is a Research Professor of Global Development at the Centre for Trust, Peace and Social Relations at Coventry University, UK.

Summary:

Brussels made democracy, human rights, the rule of law, and good governance its top co-operation priorities in the EU Strategy Framework towards Central Asia for 2007–2013. This book examines two interrelated questions: To what extent has EU democracy promotion in Central Asia been successful? And, to the extent that it was successful, why was it so? The book presents a comprehensive analytical framework for the evaluation of democracy promotion, including factors which may facilitate or hinder democratic development in Central Asia. It demonstrates the validity of a holistic approach to analyzing impediments of democracy promotion meaning that external pro-democratic support is affected by a variety of diverse factors whose impact can vary as international, regional, and domestic conditions change. The stable and rich authoritarian state of Kazakhstan is different from the much poorer Kyrgyzstan—a state prone to political instability, but also to democratic openings. By contrasting the success of democracy promotion in these two countries which have different strategic importance for the EU, this study provides valuable insights into how non-normative interests interfere with normatively driven policies.

"Sharshenova’s book is well-structured and highly recommended to those who are interested in EU democracy-promotion studies while looking with attention at local and regional dynamics in Central Asia." —Europe-Asia Studies 6/2019

Contents:

Intro

Contents

Abbreviations

Foreword

Introduction

About this Book

Case Studies

On Data Collection

Book Structure

External Democracy Promotion: Promoters and Targets

Democracy and Democracy Promotion: Theory and Practice

European Union as a Democracy Promoter

Central Asia as a Democracy Promotion Target

Local Context in Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan

General Overview

Transition and Democracy

Regime Stability

Economic Development

EU Democracy Promotion in Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan

EU Actors and their Interests in Central Asia

Legal and Normative Framework of EU Democracy Promotion

Implementation in Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan

Evaluation of the EU Democracy Promotion in Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan

Evaluation of the Strategic Calculation Mechanism

Evaluation of the Normative Suasion Mechanism

Evaluation of the Democratic Empowerment Mechanism

Evaluation of the Democratisation Progress in Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan

Factors Impeding EU Democracy Promotion in Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan

EU Factors

Local Factors

Regional Factors

Conclusions

Bibliography

Appendix I: List of Interviews

Appendix II: ISAF Troop Contributing Nations.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references.

ISBN:

9783838271514

3838271513

Publisher Number:

9783838271514