The Role of the EU and Member States in the Arab Spring: Assessment of Interests and EU Strategy in Tunisia and Libya
In: Studies on the European Union v.13
Cover -- 1. Introduction -- 1.1 The Research Question -- 1.2 Importance of the Topic -- 1.2.1 Theoretical Relevance -- 1.2.2 Political Relevance -- 1.2.3 Social Relevance -- 1.3 State of the Art -- 1.3.1 Relevant Literature -- 1.3.2 Overview of the Literature -- 1.3.3 . Contribution to the Existing Literature -- 2. Line of Theoretical Reasoning, Concepts and Hypotheses -- 2.1 Neo-classical Realism -- 2.2 Rational Theories -- 2.2.1 Neo realism -- 2.2.2 Liberal Inter-governmentalism -- 2.3 Constructivism -- 2.4 Rationalism vs Constructivism -- 2.5 Concepts and Variables -- 2.5.1 The EU as a Normative or Strategic/Pragmatic Power? -- 2.5.2 Why EU Strategy instead of EU Grand Strategy? -- 2.5.3 Independent Variable: EU's Assessment of Interests (Normative and Rational Interests) and Foreign Policy Goals -- 2.5.4 Dependent Variable: EU Policy Implementation -- 2.5.5 Intervening Variable: Member State Policies -- 2.6 Alternative Explanations (Hypotheses) -- 3. Research Design -- 3.1 Case Selection: Selection on an Explanatory Variable -- 3.2 Description of Data -- 3.3 Preliminary Answer -- 4. Assessment of Interests and Actions of the EU in Tunisia -- 4.1 EU-Tunisia Relations -- 4.2 Physical Security -- 4.2.1 Migration: Weak Responses to Huge Problems -- 4.2.2 Mobility Partnership: Clashing Interests -- 4.3 Economic Prosperity -- 4.3.1 Tunisia's Vulnerable Economic Situation -- 4.3.2 EU Support for Economic Recovery -- 4.3.3 Integration of Markets and Trade Liberalization -- 4.3.4 Investments of EIB and EBRD -- 4.3.5 High Level Visits to Tunisia -- 4.4 Value Projection -- 4.4.1 EU's New and Ambitious Support for Tunisia's Path up to the Elections -- 4.4.2 High Level Visits to Tunisia: A Reflection of `More for More` Approach -- 4.4.3 Political and Social Turmoil in Tunisia -- 5. Assessment of Interest and Actions of Member States in Tunisia