The European Union and Democracy Promotion in Bad Neighbourhoods: The Case of Central Asia

Abstract

This article examines European Union democracy promotion in Central Asia. It is found that the policy is high on rhetoric but remains low on delivery. Relatively low levels of assistance were found, concentrating mainly on good governance instead of democratisation. Furthermore, strong instruments are hardly used; even the principle of positive conditionality lacks observance. Three explanatory propositions are outlined, one drawing on the EU's multi-level system of governance, one on the structure of resonance among the target societies and one on the resource relations between the EU and the Central Asian states. In conclusion it is argued that the EU's political agenda in Central Asia is driven more by security and its self-interests than by the norms and principles of democratic governance.