The Arab Spring: a litmus test for the EU's women's right policy in the Euro-Mediterranean area

Robinson, Emily Claire (2013). The Arab Spring: a litmus test for the EU's women's right policy in the Euro-Mediterranean area. Bruges Regional Integration & Global Governance Papers. United Nations University and College of Europe.

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  • Author Robinson, Emily Claire
    Editor Abass, Ademola
    Gstöhl, Sieglinde
    Keukeleire, Stephan
    Kingah, Stephen
    Lannon, Erwan
    Van Langenhove, Luk
    Title The Arab Spring: a litmus test for the EU's women's right policy in the Euro-Mediterranean area
    Series Title Bruges Regional Integration & Global Governance Papers
    Volume/Issue No. 2
    Publication Date 2013-01-01
    Place of Publication Bruges
    Publisher United Nations University and College of Europe
    Pages 31
    Language En
    Abstract The promotion of women's rights is described as a priority within the external action of the European Union (EU). As a result of the Arab Spring uprisings which have been ongoing since 2011, democracy and human rights have been pushed to the forefront of European policy towards the Euro-Mediterranean region. The EU could capitalise on these transformations to help positively reshape gender relations or it could fail to adapt. Thus, the Arab Spring can be seen to serve as a litmus test for the EU's women's rights policy. This paper examines how and to what extent the EU diffuses women's rights in this region, by using Ian Manners' 'Normative Power Europe' as the conceptual framework. It argues that while the EU tries to behave as a normative force for women's empowerment by way of 'informational diffusion', 'transference' 'procedural diffusion' and 'overt diffusion'; its efforts could, and should, be strengthened. There are reservations over the EU's credibility, choice of engagement and its commitment in the face of security and ideological concerns. Moreover, it seems that the EU focuses more intently on women's political rights than on their social and economic freedoms
    Copyright Holder The Author
    Copyright Year 2013
    Copyright type All rights reserved
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    Created: Wed, 18 Dec 2013, 15:18:01 JST