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A difusão normativa da União Europeia e as sociedades civis da Vizinhança do Sul do Mediterrâneo
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Resumo(s)
De modo a cooperar com estados que não fazem parte do seu acquis communautaire, a
União Europeia mobiliza princípios normativos que desempenham uma função estratégica e
legitimadora, mas, também, estando profundamente enraizados na sua identidade, têm-se
tornado orientadores ‘naturais’ da sua política externa. Assim, partindo do conceito de Poder
Normativo desenvolvido por Ian Manners e dos contributos do Construtivismo Social,
considera-se que União Europeia interage no Sistema Internacional através de meios coercivos
e condicionais, mas, também, da difusão de normas - esperando contribuir para a
institucionalização de elementos intersubjetivos que sejam incorporados nos interesses dos
estados em cooperação. A democracia e os direitos humanos, frequentemente mencionados em
conjunto nas narrativas da União Europeia, são princípios normativos que têm protagonizado
os seus vários canais de difusão.
As Primaveras Árabes revelaram as várias contradições e desafios que a União Europeia
enfrenta quando difunde os seus quadros normativos para a vizinhança do Sul do Mediterrâneo.
Dando preferência à estabilidade, a União Europeia tem privilegiado as relações com os estados
autocráticos, deixando em segundo lugar a cooperação com as sociedades civis que - embora
atuem em ambientes restritivos e possam assumir formas diferentes dos modelos ocidentais -,
têm a capacidade de mobilizar a população e promover reformas importantes a nível
democrático e dos direitos humanos. Assim, as Primaveras Árabes obrigaram a União Europeia
a refletir sobre as suas estratégias de difusão normativa a esta região, conferindo às sociedades
civis um papel de destaque nas áreas da promoção democrática e dos direitos humanos.
Posto isto, é significativo estudar a relação que a União Europeia estabelece com as
sociedades civis da sua vizinhança do Sul do Mediterrâneo, analisando a evolução dos
processos de difusão normativa que acompanham a relação, tendo como marco temporal
comparativo as Primaveras Árabes. Para tal, selecionaram-se a Tunísia e o Egito como estudos
de caso, devido à liderança que assumiram nestes movimentos e por terem ambos iniciado
transições de poder, com desfechos diferentes.
Ao longo da dissertação foram analisados vários documentos produzidos pela União
Europeia, tendo-se evidenciado um conjunto de observações que permitem pensar nesta relação
através da sua complexidade. Antes das Primaveras Árabes, a Tunísia e o Egito não eram
especialmente destacados no quadro cooperativo da UE, nas áreas da promoção democrática e
dos direitos humanos. Contudo, depois destes eventos, foi atribuída às sociedades civis destes
estados uma grande importância, particularmente no caso da Tunísia. Assim, além de um
aumento de financiamento, a relevância atribuída a estes atores foi reforçada e foram
estabelecidos novos canais de cooperação que permitiram alargar o apoio a formas mais
informais de participação cívica. Consequentemente, também o significado da promoção
democrática foi alargado para incluir a promoção de sociedades livres e dinâmicas.
Apesar dos progressos atingidos, as divergências nos contextos sociopolíticos da
Tunísia e do Egito fizeram com que se observasse que a União Europeia prioriza os seus valores
apenas em situações de estabilidade e certeza. Não obstante, as narrativas que mobiliza
continuam a ser marcadas por uma retórica fortemente normativa, que não pode ser ignorada.
In order to cooperate with states that are not part of its acquis communautaire, the European Union mobilises normative principles that play a strategic and legitimising role, but also, being deeply rooted in its identity, have become ‘natural’ guidelines for its foreign policy. Considering the concept of Normative Power developed by Ian Manners and the contributions from Social Constructivism, it is considered that the European Union interacts in the International System through coercive and conditional means, but also through the diffusion of norms. Through these, it is expected that a set of intersubjective elements become institutionalized and, thus, are incorporated into the interests of the states. Democracy and human rights, which are often mentioned together in European Union’s narratives, are normative principles that have taken centre stage in several of its diffusion processes. The Arab Springs revealed the many contradictions and challenges the European Union faces when spreading its normative frameworks to the Southern Mediterranean Neighbourhood. Giving preference to stability, the European Union has favoured relations with the autocratic states, leaving cooperation with civil societies in second place, which - even though they operate in very restrictive environments and may take different forms from Western models - have the capacity to mobilise the population and promote important democratic and human rights reforms. Therefore, the Arab Springs forced the European Union to reflect on its strategies for spreading norms to this region, giving civil societies a prominent role in the areas of democratic promotion and human rights. That said, it is significant to study the relationship that the European Union establishes with the civil societies of its Southern Mediterranean Neighbourhood, in specific, analyse the evolution of the processes of normative diffusion that accompany this relation, having the Arab Springs as the comparative timeframe. Tunisia and Egypt were selected as case studies because of their leadership in these movements and since both initiated transitions of power with different outcomes. Throughout the dissertation, various documents produced by the European Union have been analysed, and a number of observations have emerged that allow us to think about this relationship through its complexity. Before the Arab Springs, Tunisia and Egypt were not particularly prominent in the EU's co-operative framework in the areas of democratic promotion and human rights. However, after these events, the civil societies of these states were given great importance, particularly in the case of Tunisia. Thus, in addition to an increase in funding, the relevance attributed to these actors was strengthened and new channels of cooperation were established which made it possible to extend support to more informal forms of civic participation. Consequently, the meaning of democratic promotion has also been broadened to include the promotion of free and dynamic societies. Despite the progress made, the divergent socio-political contexts in Tunisia and Egypt have made it clear that the European Union only prioritises its values in situations of stability and certainty. Nevertheless, the narratives it mobilises continue to be marked by a strongly normative rhetoric that cannot be ignored.
In order to cooperate with states that are not part of its acquis communautaire, the European Union mobilises normative principles that play a strategic and legitimising role, but also, being deeply rooted in its identity, have become ‘natural’ guidelines for its foreign policy. Considering the concept of Normative Power developed by Ian Manners and the contributions from Social Constructivism, it is considered that the European Union interacts in the International System through coercive and conditional means, but also through the diffusion of norms. Through these, it is expected that a set of intersubjective elements become institutionalized and, thus, are incorporated into the interests of the states. Democracy and human rights, which are often mentioned together in European Union’s narratives, are normative principles that have taken centre stage in several of its diffusion processes. The Arab Springs revealed the many contradictions and challenges the European Union faces when spreading its normative frameworks to the Southern Mediterranean Neighbourhood. Giving preference to stability, the European Union has favoured relations with the autocratic states, leaving cooperation with civil societies in second place, which - even though they operate in very restrictive environments and may take different forms from Western models - have the capacity to mobilise the population and promote important democratic and human rights reforms. Therefore, the Arab Springs forced the European Union to reflect on its strategies for spreading norms to this region, giving civil societies a prominent role in the areas of democratic promotion and human rights. That said, it is significant to study the relationship that the European Union establishes with the civil societies of its Southern Mediterranean Neighbourhood, in specific, analyse the evolution of the processes of normative diffusion that accompany this relation, having the Arab Springs as the comparative timeframe. Tunisia and Egypt were selected as case studies because of their leadership in these movements and since both initiated transitions of power with different outcomes. Throughout the dissertation, various documents produced by the European Union have been analysed, and a number of observations have emerged that allow us to think about this relationship through its complexity. Before the Arab Springs, Tunisia and Egypt were not particularly prominent in the EU's co-operative framework in the areas of democratic promotion and human rights. However, after these events, the civil societies of these states were given great importance, particularly in the case of Tunisia. Thus, in addition to an increase in funding, the relevance attributed to these actors was strengthened and new channels of cooperation were established which made it possible to extend support to more informal forms of civic participation. Consequently, the meaning of democratic promotion has also been broadened to include the promotion of free and dynamic societies. Despite the progress made, the divergent socio-political contexts in Tunisia and Egypt have made it clear that the European Union only prioritises its values in situations of stability and certainty. Nevertheless, the narratives it mobilises continue to be marked by a strongly normative rhetoric that cannot be ignored.
Descrição
Palavras-chave
Poder Normativo Normative Power Difusão Normativa Normative Diffusion União Europeia European Union Sociedades Civis Civil Societies Vizinhança do Sul do Mediterrâneo Southern Mediterranean Neighbourhood Promoção Democrática Democratic Promotion Direitos Humanos Human Rights