JSIS QUIZ 2

• Agenda for change (2011)


  Vision to differentiate EU approach from others; Brussels consensus; value-based identity
• Agenda for change (2011) - Focused on

  • Reducing poverty in a rapidly changing world
  • Human rights, democracy and good governance
  • Inclusive and sustainable growth for human development
  • Differentiated development partnerships
  • Country needs, capacities, commitments and performance, potential EU impacts
  • Common framework for measuring and communicating the results
  • Improved coherence among EU policies
• Cotonou agreement (2003)

  Normalization of development policy
• Cotonou agreement signed


  2000
• Cotonou agreement enforced


  2003
• Cotonou agreement (2003) - 3 pillars

  • Economic and Trade Cooperation
  • Development Cooperation
  • Political Dimension
• Cotonou agreement (2003)

  From aid allocation based on recipient needs to a new system based on needs and performance
• Cotonou agreement (2003)

  Country Strategy Papers and National Indicative Programs (jointly EU and recipient governments) as a basis
• Cotonou agreement (2003)

  From free trade agreements for entire regions to Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) in 6 regions
• Cotonou agreement (2003)

  New areas of cooperation: peace and security, migration, good governance
• Cotonou agreement (2003)

  A comprehensive framework for policy dialogue
• Cotonou agreement (2003)

  Violations of essential elements of CA (democracy and human rights) = suspension of aid
• Main principles of Cotonou agreement

  • The partners to the agreement are equal
  • The ACP countries determine their own development policies
  • Cooperation is not only among governments – parliaments, local authorities, civil society, the private sector and economic and social partners play a role as well
  • Cooperation arrangements and priorities vary according to aspects such as countries' levels of development
• Development Approach in Democracy Assistance - Theoretical basis


  Broad in particular social conception of democracy
• Development Approach in Democracy Assistance - Focus of assistance


  State capacity building, governance, civil society, rule of law → socio-economic reform
• Development Approach in Democracy Assistance - Advantages


  • Less confrontational and therefore offers entry points into authoritarian states
  • Gives attention to link between political and socio-economic development
  • Civil society focused renders reform process more inclusive
  • Lower risk of imposing foreign models
• Development Approach in Democracy Assistance - Disadvantages


  • Required long-term reforms
  • Risk of strengthening authoritarian leaders rather than weakening them
  • Risk of reforms in intermediate sectors but not in political domains
  • Insufficient knowledge about exact interrelation between political and socio-economic reform
• Democracy Promotion


  "All overt activities, adopted, supported and/or (directly or indirectly) implemented by (public or private) foreign actors and explicitly designed to directly contribute to the liberalization, democratization, or consolidation of democracy of a target country" (Schmitter and Bower, 1999)
• Genetic theories of Democratization - Stage one: political liberalization


  • Extension of civil liberties
  • Liberation of political prisoners, easing media censorship, greater space for civil society
• Genetic theories of Democratization - Stage two: transition


  • Start: collapse of the authoritarian regime
  • Complete: free and fair elections and basic freedoms of expression and association
• Genetic theories of Democratization - Stage 3: consolidation


  • Normative/belief level: all important political actors at the mass and elite levels sincerely believe that democracy is the most appropriate regime for their society
  • Behavioral level: actors routinely behave according to this belief
  • Established democracy continues to evolve
• New European Consensus on Development (2017)


  • EU response to the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its Sustainable Development Goals (2015)
  • Primary objective: poverty eradication
  • Integration of economic, social, and environmental dimensions
  • Links between development and other European policies, including peace and security and humanitarian aid
• New European Consensus on Development (2017) - Structured around 5 Ps framing the 2030 agenda


  • People
  • Planet
  • Prosperity
  • Peace
  • Partnership
• Political Approach in Democracy Assistance - Theoretical basis


  Narrow political conception of democracy
• Political Approach in Democracy Assistance - Focus of assistance


  • Political parties, parliaments, media, civil rights-focused NGOs, judiciary
  • Elections (electoral commissions, voter education)
• Political Approach in Democracy Assistance - Advantages


  • Address core elements of democratic system
  • Avoids blurring objective of democratization
• Political Approach in Democracy Assistance - Disadvantages


  • Awareness of crucial moments and relevance of strategic choices of key actors
  • Risk of too limited focus especially if on elections only
  • Risk of single interventions and negligence of long term reforms
  • Risk of being too confrontational for targets states governments
• Structural Theories of Democratization - Theoretical basis


  Broad, in particular social conception of democracy
• Structural Theories of Democratization - Focus of assistance


  State capacity building, governance, civil society, rule of law → socio-economic reform
• Structural Theories of Democratization - Advantages


  • Less confrontational and therefore offers entry points into authoritarian states
  • Gives attention to link between political and socio-economic development
  • Civil society focused renders reform process more inclusive
  • Lower risk of imposing foreign models
• Structural Theories of Democratization - Disadvantages


  • Required long-term reforms
  • Risk of strengthening authoritarian leaders rather than weakening them
  • Risk of reform in intermediate sectors but not in political domains
  • Insufficient knowledge about exact interrelation between political and socio-economic reform
• • Coercive approach
  • Intentional factor (negative) 
  • Military intervention 
  • Targeted diplomatic, economic, financial, and military sanctions 
• • Political conditionality 
  • Intentional factor (positive or negative) 
  • Positive 

  1. EU membership conditionally EU incentive schemes 

  • Negative

  1. Suspension and redirection of trade and cooperation agreements 
• • Consensual approach
  • Intentional factor (positive) 

  1. Human rights dialogue and monitoring mechanisms 
  2. Election monitoring
  3. Diplomatic measures- DEMOCRACY ASSISTANCE
  4. Structural theories - developmental approach 
  5. Genetic theories - political approach
• Goal of the agenda for change

  To eradicate poverty and improve lives
• Agenda for change


  • Make aid more streamline
  • Make aid more coherent
  • Make aid a team effort between private and public sectors
• Aid policy


  Aim to support good governance (genuine political and democratic reforms, human rights at the top)
• Stimulate policy


  Aim to support inclusive and sustainable growth (jobs and money are the machine for change)
• • Goal of the agenda for change is to eradicate poverty and improve lives 
  • Make aid more streamline, more coherent, and a team effort between private and public sectors
• European Commission: '"European security and defense efforts should enable the EU to act autonomously while also contributing to and undertaking actions in cooperation with NATO. A more credible defense is essential also for the sake of a healthy transatlantic partnership with the United States"'