Promoting Democracy and the Rule of Law: American and European Strategies (Governance and Limited Statehood)

European and American experts systematically compare U.S. and EU strategies to promote democracy around the world – from the Middle East and the Mediterranean, to Latin America, the former Soviet bloc, and Southeast Asia. In doing so, the authors debunk the pernicious myth that there exists a transatlantic divide over democracy promotion."This fine collection of European and American scholars has a particular relevance against the background of the democratization movements in the Arab Middle East (the so-called "Arab Spring"). In spite of the stereotypes in the IR literature, according to which "Americans are from Mars, and Europeans from Venus" the authors in this book argue convincingly that Europe and America share a high degree of normative consensus and convergence, both in strategies and in their goals, regarding the promotion of democracy in several regions of the Third World and the post-Soviet sphere." - Arie M. Kacowicz, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel"The Arab Spring reminds us once again how important processes of democratization (successful and unsuccessful) actually are for comparative politics and international relations theory. In this fine collection, some of the world's leading experts on the subject shed new light on the international dimensions of democratization. This book represents the only systematic comparative analysis of American and EU efforts to encourage the development of democracy and the rule of law in regions of the world still lacking them - including North Africa and the Middle East. As such it is indispensable reading for students, scholars, and practitioners alike." - Leonardo Morlino, President, International Political Science Association European and American experts systematically compare U.S. and EU strategies to promote democracy around the world -- from the Middle East and the Mediterranean, to Latin America, the former Soviet bloc, and Southeast Asia. In doing so, the authors debunk the pernicious myth that there exists a transatlantic divide over democracy promotion. Are Americans and Europeans united or divided over the goal of promoting democracy and the rule of law around the globe? What strategies and instruments do they wield in Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe, Latin America, and the Middle East in an effort to achieve these goals? And what do their successes and failures reveal both about the challenge of encouraging the spread of freedom and the nature of American and European foreign policies in the 21st century? These are some of the pressing questions tackled in this volume by a distinguished group of analysts from both sides of the Atlantic. Contrary to conventional wisdom, the authors demonstrate in detail that the U.S. and the EU share many common features in their democracy promotion strategies, including shared 'double standards'. This is a much anticipated study -- one that provides the first systematic, comparative analysis of American and European efforts to transform governance in developing countries Contents......Page 6 List of Illustrations......Page 7 Foreword......Page 8 Acknowledgments......Page 14 Notes on Contributors......Page 16 1 Introduction: American and European Strategies to Promote Democracy – Shared Values, Common Challenges, Divergent Tools?......Page 20 2 Venus Approaching Mars? The European Union’s Approaches to Democracy Promotion in Comparative Perspective......Page 53 3 Governance and Foreign Assistance: the Imperfect Translation of Ideas into Outcomes......Page 80 4 Europe, the United States, and Middle Eastern Democracy......Page 112 5 Comparing EU and US Democracy Promotion in the Mediterranean and the Newly Independent States......Page 137 6 Democracy or Stability? EU and US Engagement in the Southern Caucasus......Page 169 7 Latin America Is Different: Transatlantic Discord on How to Promote Democracy in “Problematic” Countries......Page 204 8 US and EU Strategies to Promote Democracy in Indonesia......Page 235 9 Conclusions: Towards Transatlantic Democracy Promotion?......Page 263 B......Page 292 D......Page 293 E......Page 294 G......Page 295 J......Page 296 N......Page 297 R......Page 298 U......Page 299 Z......Page 300 "Are Americans and Europeans united or divided over the goal of promoting democracy and the rule of law around the globe? What strategies and instruments do they wield in Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe, Latin America, and the Middle East in an effort to achieve these goals? And what do their successes and failures reveal both about the challenge of encouraging the spread of freedom and the nature of American and European foreign policies in the twenty-first century? These are some of the pressing questions tackled in this volume by a distinguished group of analysts from both sides of the Atlantic. Contrary to conventional wisdom, the authors demonstrate in detail that the US and the EU share many common features in their democracy promotion strategies, including shared 'double standards'. This is a much anticipated study - one that provides the first systematic, comparative analysis of American and European efforts to transform governance in developing countries."--Jacket

Are Americans and Europeans united or divided over the goal of promoting democracy and the rule of law around the globe? What strategies and instruments do they wield in Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe, Latin America, and the Middle East in an effort to achieve these goals? And what do their successes and failures reveal both about the challenge of encouraging the spread of freedom and the nature of American and European foreign policies in the twenty-first century? These are some of the pressing questions tackled in this volume by a distinguished group of analysts from both sides of the Atlantic. Contrary to conventional wisdom, the authors demonstrate in detail that the US and the EU share many common features in their democracy promotion strategies, including shared 'double standards'. This is a much anticipated study - one that provides the first systematic, comparative analysis of American and European efforts to transform governance in developing countries.