The European Union's Influence in Central Asia
Lexington Books (Verlag)
978-1-4985-4223-4 (ISBN)
Unknown yet highly strategic, Central Asia attracts the interest of major global powers due to its vast energy resources and crucial geographic position. Russia, China, and the European Union view this region as an indispensable springboard to enhance their political and economic influence on the Eurasian landmass. Thus, facing strong competition and working on low budget, the EU is attempting to establish itself as a relevant and influential actor in an environment in which its leadership role is far from certain. Unlike in other post-communist regions, the EU is not able to rely on the attractiveness of its political models, and risks being marginalized by other global powers. The crucial question then is: How does the EU exert influence in such a challenging geopolitical context? Which strategies does the EU apply to be an actor who counts? Through an analysis of the EU’s discourse, instruments, and the reception of its policies in Central Asia, this study argues that the EU consciously takes the position of a second-tier actor who acts as a “consultant” and projects a picture of itself as an honest broker with no geopolitical agenda. The EU’s influence is confined to niche domains in the security sphere that are nevertheless important for the regional security. The EU is not a great power in the region nor is it willing to become one. It does, however, have comparative advantages in being perceived as inoffensive and for occupying areas that are neglected by the other actors, such as governance and water security.
Olga Alinda Spaiser is associate scholar in the Center for European Studies at Sciences Po and project manager for the Directorate-General for Crisis Prevention, Stabilisation and Post-Conflict Reconstruction in the German Federal Foreign Office.
Part I: The European Union as a Global Actor: Conceptual Framework
Chapter 1: Analyzing the EU as a Foreign Actor: The Three Levels of EU's Influence
Part II: The European Union in Central Asia
Chapter 2: The Context: Geostrategic Stakes in an Unstable Environment on European Doorsteps
Chapter 3: The Emergence of the EU's Policy toward Central Asia: The "Far Neighborhood" Approach
Chapter 4: Analyzing the EU’s Strategy for Central Asia: Discourse, Instruments, and Reception
Chapter 5: The Broader Geopolitical Context of EU Policy in Central Asia: Competition for Influence and Influence Parallelism
Part III: Case Studies: The EU as a “Consultant” in Central Asia's Security Sphere
Chapter 6: Border Insecurity in Central Asia and the EU's Response
Chapter 7: Governance Crises in Central Asia and the EU's Response
Chapter 8: Water Conflict in Central Asia and the EU's Response
| Erscheinungsdatum | 10.05.2021 |
|---|---|
| Reihe/Serie | Contemporary Central Asia: Societies, Politics, and Cultures |
| Sprache | englisch |
| Maße | 159 x 240 mm |
| Gewicht | 581 g |
| Themenwelt | Sozialwissenschaften ► Politik / Verwaltung ► Europäische / Internationale Politik |
| ISBN-10 | 1-4985-4223-9 / 1498542239 |
| ISBN-13 | 978-1-4985-4223-4 / 9781498542234 |
| Zustand | Neuware |
| Informationen gemäß Produktsicherheitsverordnung (GPSR) | |
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