EU human rights and democracy promotion in Central Asia: From Lofty principles to Lowly self-interests

Abstract

Promoting human rights and democracy is repeatedly stated as a key objective of both EU foreign and development policy, highlighted in the European Consensus on Development (2005) and in the European Security Strategy (2003), as well as in regional strategy documents such as the new Central Asia Strategy (2007). Through a case study of EU activities in Central Asia, this contribution focuses on the interaction between the expression of lofty principles in policy statements and the operation of lowly self-interests in practice. It argues not only that the latter trump the former in a hierarchy of foreign policy objectives, but also that the statements of fine-sounding principles serve simultaneously to legitimise the ongoing ‘co-operation’ with authoritarian and semi-authoritarian rulers. Outcomes thus contradict stated intent, with such regimes more likely to be strengthened than move towards a trajectory of political liberalisation, democratisation and increased respect for human rights. The EU may like to present itself as a normative actor in the world, yet its actions are increasingly those of a realist power, with norms sacrificed to interests. In exploring human rights and democracy promotion in practice in Central Asia, one distinctive element is an empirical analysis of the European Initiative on Democracy and Human Rights (EIDHR) projects in Central Asia (2003–2006).