Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-4rdpn Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-19T14:19:28.477Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Human Rights, Geostrategy, and EU Foreign Policy, 1989–2008

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  17 October 2014

Get access

Abstract

Is foreign policy influenced by humanitarian concerns, or are concepts such as human security merely rhetoric for traditional power politics? Using a multilevel modeling technique and a unique data set of military and economic European Union (EU) intervention 1989–2008, I find that military and economic interventions by the EU are conducted in response to humanitarian atrocities but that geostrategic concerns also influence EU action. While the EU consistently is more likely to act against countries with greater civilian victimization, the size of the effect is influenced by spatial considerations. The EU is most attentive to human rights violations in non-EU European states, followed by countries in sub-Saharan Africa, while it has been least active in Asia and the Americas.

Type
Research Notes
Copyright
Copyright © The IO Foundation 2015 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

Footnotes

An earlier version of this research note was presented at the meeting of the ECPR Standing Group on European Union politics, Tampere, Finland, in September 2012. Thanks to Christian Altpeter, Emma Elfversson, Sara Lindberg Bromley, Mathilda Lindgren, and Ausra Padskocimaite for assistance with data collection. I am also grateful to the editor and anonymous reviewers for their encouraging and constructive feedback.

References

Watch, Africa. 1992. Zaire: Two Years Without Transition. News from Africa Watch 4 (9):144.Google Scholar
Bartels, Lorand. 2005. Human Rights Conditionality in the EU's International Agreements. New York: Oxford University Press.Google Scholar
Bicchi, Federica. 2006. “Our Size Fits All”: Normative Power Europe and the Mediterranean. Journal of European Public Policy 13 (2):263303.Google Scholar
Biscop, Sven. 2005. The European Security Strategy: A Global Agenda for Positive Power. Aldershot, UK: Ashgate.Google Scholar
Blanton, Shannon Lindsey, and Blanton, Robert G.. 2007. What Attracts Foreign Investors? An Examination of Human Rights and Foreign Direct Investment. Journal of Politics 69 (1):143–55.Google Scholar
Börzel, Tanja A., and Risse, Thomas. 2004. One Size Fits All! EU Policies for the Promotion of Human Rights, Democracy and the Rule of Law. Unpublished manuscript, Free University of Berlin.Google Scholar
Brummer, Klaus. 2009. Imposing Sanctions: The Not So “Normative Power Europe.” European Foreign Affairs Review 14 (2):191207.Google Scholar
Carlin, John B., Wolfe, Rory, Brown, C. Hendricks, and Gelman, Andrew. 2001. A Case Study on the Choice, Interpretation and Checking of Multilevel Models for Longitudal Binary Outcomes. Biostatistics 2 (4):397416.Google Scholar
Caruso, Raul. 2003. The Impact of International Economic Sanctions on Trade: An Empirical Analysis. Peace Economics, Peace Science, and Public Policy 9 (2):134.Google Scholar
Cingranelli, David L., and Richards, David L.. 1999. Measuring the Level, Pattern, and Sequence of Government Respect for Physical Integrity Rights. International Studies Quarterly 43 (2):407–17.Google Scholar
Eck, Kristine, and Hultman, Lisa. 2007. One-Sided Violence Against Civilians in War: Insights from New Fatality Data. Journal of Peace Research 44 (2):233–46.Google Scholar
Eder, Franz. 2011. The European Union's Counter-Terrorism Policy Towards the Maghreb: Trapped Between Democratisation, Economic Interests and the Fear of Destabilisation. European Security 20 (3):431–51.Google Scholar
Gelman, Andrew, and Hill, Jennifer. 2007. Data Analysis Using Regression and Multilevel/Hierarchical Models. New York: Cambridge University Press.Google Scholar
Gilligan, Michael J., and Sergenti, Ernest J.. 2008. Do UN Interventions Cause Peace? Using Matching to Improve Causal Inference. Quarterly Journal of Political Science 3 (2):89122.Google Scholar
Gleditsch, Kristian Skrede. 2002. Expanded Trade and GDP Data. Journal of Conflict Resolution 46 (5):712–24.Google Scholar
Gow, James. 1997. Triumph of the Lack of Will: International Diplomacy and the Yugoslav War. London: Hurst & Co.Google Scholar
Gruhn, Isebill V. 1976. The Lomé Convention: Inching Towards Interdependence. International Organization 30 (2):241–62.Google Scholar
Hazelzet, Hadewych. 2001. Carrots or Sticks? EU and US Reactions to Human Rights Violations (1989–2000). PhD diss., European University Institute, Florence, Italy.Google Scholar
Heldt, Birger, and Wallensteen, Peter. 2005. Peacekeeping Operations: Global Patterns of Intervention and Success, 1948–2004. 2nd ed. Sandövägen, Sweden: Folke Bernadotte Academy Publications.Google Scholar
Hultman, Lisa. 2013. UN Peace Operations and Protection of Civilians: Cheap Talk or Norm Implementation? Journal of Peace Research 50 (1):5973.Google Scholar
Hyde-Price, Adrian. 2006. “Normative” Power Europe: A Realist Critique. Journal of European Public Policy 13 (2):217–34.Google Scholar
Johansson, Emma, Kreutz, Joakim, Wallensteen, Peter, Altpeter, Christian, Lindberg, Sara, Lindgren, Mathilda, and Padskocimaite, Ausra. 2010. A New Start for EU Peacemaking? Past Record and Future Potential. UCDP Paper 7. Uppsala University, Sweden: Department of Peace and Conflict Research.Google Scholar
King, Toby. 1999. Human Rights in European Foreign Policy: Success or Failure for Post-modern Diplomacy? European Journal of International Law 10 (2):313–37.Google Scholar
King, Gary, and Zeng, Langche. 2001. Logistic Regression in Rare Events Data. Political Analysis 9 (2):137–63.Google Scholar
Kreutz, Joakim. 2005. Hard Measures by a Soft Power? Sanctions Policy of the European Union. BICC Paper 45. Bonn, Germany: Bonn International Center for Conversion.Google Scholar
Kreutz, Joakim, and Brosché, Johan. 2013. A Responsibility to Talk: Mediation and Violence Against Civilians. Canadian Foreign Policy Journal 19 (1):2638.Google Scholar
Krotz, Ulrich, and Maher, Richard. 2011. International Relations Theory and the Rise of European Foreign and Security Policy. World Politics 63 (3):548–79.Google Scholar
Lebovic, James H., and Voeten, Erik. 2009. The Cost of Shame: International Organization and Foreign Aid in the Punishing of Human Rights Violators. Journal of Peace Research 46 (1):7997.Google Scholar
Lerch, Marika, and Schwellnus, Guido. 2006. Normative by Nature? The Role of Coherence in Justifying the EU's External Human Rights Policy. Journal of European Public Policy 13 (2):304–21.Google Scholar
Lewis, Jeffrey B., and Linzer, Drew A.. 2005. Estimating Regression Models in Which the Dependent Variable Is Based on Estimates. Political Analysis 13 (4):345–64.Google Scholar
Manners, Ian. 2002. Normative Power Europe: A Contradiction in Terms? Journal of Common Market Studies 40 (2):235–58.Google Scholar
Marshall, Monty G., and Jaggers, Keith. 2010. Polity IV Project: Political Regime Characteristics and Transitions, 1800–2009. Dataset Users' Manual. College Park: University of Maryland. Available at http://www.systemicpeace.org/inscrdata.html. Accessed 3 June 2010.Google Scholar
Martin, Philippe, Mayer, Thierry, and Thoenig, Mathias. 2008. Make Trade Not War? Review of Economic Studies 75 (3):865900.Google Scholar
Matlary, Janne Haaland. 2004. Human Rights. In Contemporary European Foreign Policy, edited by Carlsnaes, Walter, Sjursen, Helene, and White, Brian, 141–54. London: Sage.Google Scholar
Mayer, Hartmut. 2008. Is It Still Called “Chinese Whispers”? The EU's Rhetoric and Action as a Responsible Global Institution. International Affairs 84 (1):6179.Google Scholar
Morgan, T. Clifton, Bapat, Navin, and Krustev, Valentin. 2009. The Threat and Imposition of Economic Sanctions, 1971–2000. Conflict Management and Peace Science 26 (1):92110.Google Scholar
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), Development Assistance Committee. 1996. The European Community. Development Co-operation Review Series 12. Paris: OECD.Google Scholar
Portela, Clara. 2005. Where and Why Does the EU Impose Sanctions? Politique Européenne 3 (17):83111.Google Scholar
Reno, Wiliam. 1997. Sovereignty and Personal Rule in Zaire. African Studies Quarterly 1 (3):3964.Google Scholar
Risse-Kappen, Thomas. 1991. Public Opinion, Domestic Structure, and Foreign Policy in Liberal Democracies. World Politics 43 (4):479512.Google Scholar
Sicurelli, Daniela. 2008. Framing Security and Development in the EU Pillar Structure: How the Views of the European Commission Affect EU Africa Policy. European Integration 30 (2):217–34.Google Scholar
Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). 2012. SIPRI Military Expenditure Database. Stockholm, Sweden. Available at <www.sipri.org/research/armaments/milex/milex_database>. Accessed 16 August 2012..+Accessed+16+August+2012.>Google Scholar
Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). 2010. SIPRI Multilateral Peace Operations Database. Stockholm, Sweden. Available at <www.sipri.org/databases/pko>. Accessed 7 June 2010..+Accessed+7+June+2010.>Google Scholar
Smith, Karen E. 2001. The EU, Human Rights and Relations with Third Countries: “Foreign Policy” with an Ethical Dimension? In Ethics and Foreign Policy, edited by Smith, Karen E. and Light, Margot, 185204. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press.Google Scholar
Smith, Karen E. 2006. Speaking with One Voice? European Union Co-ordination on Human Rights Issues at the United Nations. Journal of Common Market Studies 44 (1):113–37.Google Scholar
Smith, Michael. 2004. Toward a Theory of EU Foreign Policy-making: Multi-level Governance, Domestic Politics, and National Adaptation to Europe's Common Foreign and Security Policy. Journal of European Public Policy 11 (4):740–58.Google Scholar
Smith, Michael. 2011. A Liberal Grand Strategy in a Realist World? Power, Purpose and the EU's Changing Global Role. Journal of European Public Policy 18 (2):144–63.Google Scholar
Solana, Javier. 2003. A Secure Europe in a Better World: European Security Strategy. Brussels: European Council.Google Scholar
Thomas, Daniel C. 2012. Still Punching Below Its Weight? Coherence and Effectiveness in European Union Foreign Policy. Journal of Common Market Studies 50 (3):457–74.Google Scholar
Thompson, William R. 2001. Identifying Rivals and Rivalries in World Politics. International Studies Quarterly 45 (4):557–86.Google Scholar
Tomz, Michael, Wittenberg, Jason, and King, Gary. 2003. CLARIFY: Software for Interpreting and Presenting Statistical Results. Journal of Statistical Software 8 (1):130.Google Scholar
Uppsala Conflict Data Program (UCDP). 2010. Uppsala Conflict Encyclopedia. Uppsala University, Sweden: Department of Peace and Conflict Research. Available at <www.ucdp.uu.se/gpdatabase/search.php>. Accessed 7 June 2010..+Accessed+7+June+2010.>Google Scholar
Uppsala Conflict Data Program (UCDP). 2012. Egypt and the Arab Spring. Uppsala University, Sweden: Department of Peace and Conflict Research. Available at <www.ucdp.uu.se/gpdatabase/info/Egypt%20and%20the%20Arab%20Spring.pdf>. Accessed 6 May 2013..+Accessed+6+May+2013.>Google Scholar
US Department of State. 1994. Zaire Human Rights Practices, 1993. Washington, DC.Google Scholar
Wood, Steve. 2009. The European Union: A Normative or Normal Power? European Foreign Affairs Review 14 (1):113–28.Google Scholar
World Bank. 2010. World Development Indicators 2010. Washington, DC: World Bank.Google Scholar
Youngs, Richard. 2004. Normative Dynamics and Strategic Interests in the EU's External Identity. Journal of Common Market Studies 42 (2):415–35.Google Scholar
Zartman, I. William. 1976. Europe and Africa: Decolonization or Dependency? Foreign Affairs 54 (2):325–43.Google Scholar
Supplementary material: PDF

Kreutz Supplementary Material

Supplementary Material 1

Download Kreutz Supplementary Material(PDF)
PDF 152.5 KB
Supplementary material: File

Kreutz Supplementary Material

Supplementary Material 2

Download Kreutz Supplementary Material(File)
File 13.5 KB
Supplementary material: File

Kreutz Supplementary Material

Supplementary Material 3

Download Kreutz Supplementary Material(File)
File 6.9 KB
Supplementary material: File

Kreutz Supplementary Material

Supplementary Material 4

Download Kreutz Supplementary Material(File)
File 636.8 KB
Supplementary material: PDF

Kreutz Supplementary Material

Supplementary Material 5

Download Kreutz Supplementary Material(PDF)
PDF 202.2 KB