The European Union's Democratization Policy for Central Asia: Failed in Success or Succeeded in Failure? by Vera Axyonova

Author:Vera Axyonova [Axyonova, Vera]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: European, Democracy, Political Ideologies, Political Science, World
ISBN: 9783838266947
Google: AVL_BgAAQBAJ
Goodreads: 22349340
Publisher: Ibidem Press
Published: 2014-10-01T09:04:19+00:00

5. Structured Human Rights Dialogues

This chapter examines the implementation of EU bilateral human rights dialogues (HRDs) with the Central Asian states, and evaluates and explains their effects, where present. The first section traces the dialogue process, in order to assess whether the EU efforts drawing on normative suasion were successful. Such an evaluation appears to be quite a challenging task in terms of operationalizing and measuring effects of the dialogue. So far theoretically-oriented studies of normative suasion have not been able to fully resolve this challenge (cf. Wetzel 2013), while empirically grounded research on the effects of human rights dialogues has been largely missing (probably due to the fact that HRDs are a rather new format). In accordance with the discussion in chapter 3, the success of the dialogue-based tools is defined in terms of the internalization of promoted norms and values by the targets and corresponding ‘sustained’, long-term changes in the targets’ behaviours (cf. Checkel 2005: 804; Warkotsch 2009: 252). An evaluation based on this definition would need to consider a possibility that the targets strategically adapt their behaviours rather than alter their beliefs and internalise new norms (cf. Checkel 2001: 566). In order to operationalize the latter (partly intangible) alterations and exclude possible intervening influences, this study uses a launch of relevant long-term initiatives and reforms proposed by the targets in connection with the dialogue process as an indication of success of the dialogue-based tools, while controlling for possible effects of external conditionality pressures.

Hence, section 5.1 examines whether and what long-term, forward-looking initiatives, programmes and legislative reforms were started by the governments of Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan in connection with the HRDs. First, the thematic scope of the HRDs is specified. Then, the long-term initiatives by the Central Asian governments related to the dialogues are identified. The analysis covers the period of the first three years after the establishment of the structured HRDs with Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan in 2007 and 2008 respectively. For the purpose of effect attribution, the study accounts for possible intervening influences of other EU measures (e.g. application of sanctions) and efforts of third actors in the region. Finally, section 5.2 scrutinizes possible explanations of the outcomes of the European engagement in accordance with the assumptions stated in chapter 3.

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