Analysing the effectiveness of the EU as a regional crisis management actor in the post-Lisbon era
a case study assessment of the capability-expectations gap applied to the Ukraine crisisAnalysing the effectiveness of the EU as a regional crisis management actor in the post-Lisbon era
a case study assessment of the capability-expectations gap applied to the Ukraine crisisSamenvatting
This research examines the effectiveness of the EU as a regional crisis management actor in the post-Lisbon era. In doing so, an assessment is made of the capability-expectations gap applied to the crisis in Ukraine, thereby building upon the work of Hill (1993) and that of Ginsberg (1999). This research argues that in order to examine EU crisis management effectiveness, an adaptation is needed of the capability-expectations gap (CEG) as a concept. This research has tried to bring together aspects of the capability-expectations gap with additional tools to make this concept more applicable and thus suitable for measuring the actual outcomes or effectiveness of EU crisis management. This research discusses that to some extent there has been a discrepancy between Ukraine’s expectations and the EU’s response during the crisis. Although the policies and policy-instruments at the EU’s disposal are firmly in place, the EU continues to suffer from insufficient resources to adopt a truly comprehensive approach, and institutional incoherence in terms of its foreign policy. Furthermore, the EU has suffered from a certain degree of policy incoherence both prior and during the crisis, and from reliability on a legitimated and multilateral approach. The OSCE turned out to be the most appropriate framework for crisis management. However, in terms of overall policy outcomes, the crisis has not been resolved and Ukraine still shows signs of insecurity and instability. Furthermore, although it could be argued that the crisis has been addressed in a peaceful and consensual way, the wider goal towards the eastern neighbourhood of security, stability and prosperity has clearly not been brought about. This research therefore concludes that there still appears to be a considerable gap between EU capabilities and external expectations. In relation to this, the EU has been relatively incoherent and ineffective in both its broader approach towards the neighbourhood, as well as to the crisis in Ukraine in particular. Yet, the overall effectiveness of EU crisis management requires the study of multiple cases over time, whereas in terms of long-term effectiveness in Ukraine, it might be too soon to come to any definitive conclusions.
Organisatie | De Haagse Hogeschool |
Opleiding | MO Europese Studies / European Studies |
Afdeling | Faculteit Management & Organisatie |
Jaar | 2016 |
Type | Bachelor |
Taal | Engels |