Think tank europe

Unintended Consequences. Western Soft Power as a Source of Legitimacy for Central Asian Autocrats
28/07/2011
Author : Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politik (SWP)
by Andrea Schmitz, Esther Somfalvy
 
The policy of the EU and its member states vis-à-vis Central Asia's authoritarian states is focused first and foremost on stability. At the same time, it is hoped that the region's political elites will allow themselves to be swayed by "constructive engagement" and "dialogue" to abide by human rights standards and to pursue democratic reforms. In accordance with this policy, the Central Asian states are incorporated into international cooperation projects, which focus on shared interests and blur the variance in different values. Just how unsuccessful this approach is has been demonstrated by Kazakhstan's OSCE chairmanship. Kazakhstan's leadership has primarily used the office to consolidate its domestic power rather than promoting acceptance of the "human dimension" of security in the post-Soviet space and leading by good example. If it wishes to avoid such outcomes in the future, the West must develop a more acute awareness of the behavioural logic driving its partners.

 

Downlaod here
 
Keyword search
 
Report inappropriate content
You need to be logged in to rate and comment on articles.
Click the log in or register button in the top right corner of this page.
Add rating
 
Back to ArticleList
Thursday, 24 May 2012
Europe's World - AUTUMN 2011 - #19
The Spring 2012 issue of Europe's World is out!

We feel it's fair to say that few if any publications in the field of international relations and policy debate have grown as fast or widened their scope so remarkably as Europe's World.

Our 100,000 readers worldwide are drawn from politics, government, business, the media, universities and NGOs.
 
Advertisement
  
Vox Pop - Have your say...
WHAT IS THE EU’S ROLE IN AN INCREASINGLY POLARISED WORLD??
 


What do YOU think?
Please leave your comments at the end of the article 

 

le plus populaire du journal
le plus populaire de communité
le plus populaire des partenaires
Logon