The European Union As A Global Counter-Terrorism Actor - Normative or Selfish Power

Abstract: Based on its self-identification, as a normative power and ‘force for good’ in the world, this analysis explores the role of the European Union (EU) as an international counter-terrorism actor. A major part of the EU’s counter-terrorism policy outside its own borders is the use of aid to prevent terrorism by combating radicalization. This study examines both whether the EU does in fact use aid as a counter-terrorism tool, and what approach it takes in doing so. The EU is assumed to either follow a normative power approach in which it combats terrorism globally, or a self-interested approach in which it only becomes active if its own interests are at stake. A regression analysis is conducted, examining the effect of the level of terrorism on the EU’s aid commitments. The analysis uses panel data covering 1,358 country-years between 2006 and 2015. The results show that a greater frequency and severity of terror attacks increases EU aid commitments, regardless of whether the EU itself is targeted. This confirms the hypothesis that the EU takes a normative power approach to counter-terrorism. Therefore, it can be considered a global ‘force for good’ in this policy area.