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The EU as a mediating actor in conflict and peacebuilding in neighbouring regions and beyond: the case of Kosovo
Dautzenberg, Tom ; Weiss, Tomáš (advisor) ; Styczyńska, Natasza (referee)
This research investigates the targeting of EU state building policies in Kosovo. By employing the conceptual framework of the 'minimalist state' and applying this to the case, it studies to what extent the EU policies are suitable to improve Kosovo's status and performance as a state. Minimalist states are countries that have been established as a result of intervention and state building by international actors and were developed to accommodate competing claims, but in doing so, fall short of sets of functions states are widely expected to carry out. By applying this concept to Kosovo, this study analyses to what extent the EU's policies are targeted correctly to improve the features of Kosovo's minimalist state. The study was conducted by analysing the three main policy frameworks through which it engages with Kosovo: the Stabilisation and Association Process (SAP), EULEX, and the Belgrade-Pristina Dialogue. Document analysis was conducted with Kosovo as a single case study to answer the research question. The research has shown that the EU addresses only a limited number of features of Kosovo's minimalist state. Whereas the policies focus on increasing the strength of Kosovo's state, the EU's state building policies do not directly target the scope and legitimacy of Kosovo. Keywords: European...
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The Evolution of EU Foreign Policy towards Israel: Wars in Gaza 2008/2009 and 2014
Zdrálek, Jan ; Střítecký, Vít (advisor) ; Záhora, Jakub (referee)
The thesis concentrates on two phenomena: EU foreign policy and the EU-Israel relationship. As a result, the methodological approach is two-fold. The first focal point of the thesis is the evolution of EU foreign policy itself, especially concentrating on the situation before and after the Treaty of Lisbon came into effect on 1 December 2009. The second focal point of the thesis are two qualitative analyses of Operation Cast Lead (2008/2009) and Operation Protective Edge (2014) which compare the reactions of EU institutions with the reactions of two 'pro-Israel' EU member states (Germany and the Czech Republic) and two 'anti-Israel' EU member states (France and Sweden) to each conflict. The theoretical approach of the thesis is derived from the theory of normative institutionalism developed by Daniel C. Thomas. Based on this theory, the thesis argues that: [1] the increasing power of EU institutions has a mitigating effect on the sharp rhetoric of the member states; and [2] accentuated by the Lisbon Treaty reforms, institutionalism transforms the whole concept of EU foreign policy as individual member states perceive joint action as an intrinsic value and favour consistency and coherence in EU policy-making across time and issue-areas. Lastly, based on the qualitative analysis of the EU statements...
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A Legitimacy Analysis of EU Sanctions
Šaturová, Gabriela ; Weiss, Tomáš (advisor) ; Young, Mitchell (referee)
Political legitimacy has often been addressed in terms of the legitimacy of actors, while the legitimacy of policies as such is relatively neglected. This thesis argues that an analytical distinction between the categories of the actor and its action is necessary, since an actor's legitimacy does not automatically imply the legitimacy of its behaviour; furthermore, in real social discourse, actions are not exempt from legitimacy judgments. The ambition of the thesis is to make use of this research gap and to examine one of the most important tools of the EU's foreign policy by means of an analytical framework of political legitimacy. The selected cases are the current episode of CFSP sanctions against Russia; "appropriate measures" under the ACP Partnership agreement against Zimbabwe; and the informal arms embargo against China. Sanctions dealt with in the first two cases are deemed legitimate, while the arms embargo on China failed to meet the legitimacy criteria. Apart from the findings on legitimacy, two major conclusions can be drawn from the analysis: The lack of internal coherence is impairing the legitimacy of the EU's political measures; and the imposition of sanctions through an institutionalised political framework enhances their transparency in contrast to informal measures.
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