AbstractsPolitical Science

National Interests Meet Neopatrimonialism: EU in the Horn of Africa

by Ask Gudmundsen




Institution: Roskilde University
Department:
Year: 2016
Keywords: EU; european union; realism; neoclassical realism; neopatrimonialism; horn of africa; security; foreign policy; war; development; national interest; AMISOM; Atalanta; EUTM; EUCAP
Posted: 02/05/2017
Record ID: 2067296
Full text PDF: http://rudar.ruc.dk/handle/1800/26198


Abstract

This thesis examines the challenges to the EU’s implementation of the Strategic Framework for the Horn of Africa’s comprehensive approach to security. Based on neoclassical realism and neopatrimoni-alism, two questions arise: 1. What challenges arise within Europe itself? 2. What challenges does the implementation meet locally on the Horn? It is apparent that both the member states’ individual national interests and common trans-European interests (e.g. piracy and refugee migration) take priority over the comprehensive approach in the initia-tives being implemented by the EU. This focus on short-term security and interest in the economy undermines the implementation of the Strategic Framework’s initiatives. Furthermore, many initiatives that are implemented are challenged by the weak state institutions in the countries on the Horn of Afri-ca or by their authoritarian regimes. The former because they are too weak to implement the EU initia-tives and the latter because long-serving leaders are largely uninterested in policies of good governance and human rights that challenge the status quo. Advisors/Committee Members: Olsen, Gorm Rye (advisor).