How discourse explains the actorness: the case of “shrinking civic space” in the statements of EU delegations

Abstract: This study aims to examine how systemic factors shape the capabilities of a normative actor to project its power through the discourse. By looking into the statements of EU delegations related to shrinking civic space this study will identify patterns and variations in the EU discourse depending on the level of repression in the third country. We will claim that in the countries where civic space is closed – the space for exercising normative action gets also extremely limited despite the assumption that severe violations should entail more normative action. The trend of shrinking civic space will be regarded as reflecting the global struggle between liberal and non-liberal agendas over what is to be considered as normal. Driven by social constructivism and critical discourse analysis, the study concludes with supporting the initial claim and providing evidence for limited capabilities of the EU to openly stand for civic freedoms in the closed countries. Overall, research contributes to the scholarship on normative actorness, EU democracy and human rights promotion, and application of mixed methodologies for conducting a textual analysis. Wholesome mapping of the discourse of EU delegations on shrinking civic space may serve a building block for further enquiries.