Domination in the name of Democracy? : The means and ends to the European Union’s democracy promotion

Abstract: In recent years we have been able to witness a growing divide in the politics of democracy promotion, research in the field has taken a more critical turn and is proclaiming a legitimacy crisis of democracy promotion. Some of the most prominent critique comes from the field of postcolonialism where authors argue that the desire to intervene and democratise another society should be considered an imperial project. Others argue that the ‘unsatisfactory’ outcomes of democracy promotion should be attributed to an insufficient conceptualisation of democracy and its relation to liberalism. This thesis aims to engage with some of the critiques brought forward in the discussion on the legitimacy crisis of democracy promotion by focusing on EU policies, specifically concerning the envisioned relation and interaction with recipients of democracy promotion. To gain deeper understanding of this issue the study puts forward the question of what conception of democracy is promoted by the EU in order to understand what the EU brings into interactions with recipients of democracy promotion. This is then followed by the question of whether there any indications that the democracy promotion pursued by the EU may contribute to a relation of domination. Through the use of textual analysis and ideology critique, the conclusions present support to the claims that the EU’s conception of democracy promotes traditional liberal values, infused with a narrative of universalism to legitimise EU engagement. Further it is concluded that, variations in the EU’s way of phrasing its efforts indicates an ambivalence concerning the role of recipients. The findings of the thesis further support the perception that that the EU is pursuing a strategy to leverage its own normative and political power in the international arena. Examples of a neo-colonial narrative, combined with a lack of self-reflection concerning the EU’s colonial history and current position of power, further supports critiques concerning cultural imperialism. Still, it is also found that, on a policy level, citizens and civil society organisations in partner states are supported and empowered, going against the notion of domination.