Geopolitics of the ArabSpring. The changes in EU external relations with Egypt

Bachelor Thesis , 2020 , 50 Pages , Grade: 2.0

Earth Science / Geography - Geopolitics

In this bachelor thesis the changes in the EU’s external relations with the Arab Republic of Egypt before the "Arab Spring", in response to the "Arab Spring" and in the aftermath of the revolutionary democratic movement, and the respective motives and agendas behind these external relations, will be analysed. In this thesis the term "Arab Spring" will define the entire period of democratisation in Egypt, as this will provide a more coherent structure and facilitate the analysis.

In December of 2010 a Tunisian street vendor named Mohammed Bouazizi set himself on fire to protest the confiscation of his vegetable stand by the police. This self ignition was the starting point for a wave of government protests which started in Tunisia and swept through many Arab countries. This movement of pro-democracy protests is most often referred in the media and in public culture as the "Arab Spring", alluding to the Prague Spring of 1968, a pro democracy movement in the former Czechoslovakia. The "Arab Spring" was a heterogeneous pro-democracy, government critical protest movement which had very different outcomes in the various Arab countries. E.g. in Lybia, Syria and Jemen the protests led to, at the time of writing, still ongoing civil wars, in Quatar the protests were suppressed and in Tunisia and Egypt they led to democratic elections being held, following the ousting of the authoritarian president Ben Ali and Mubarak.

These wave of protests came as a surprise to the international community and due to the instability which followed the protests in many of the affected countries, the "Arab Spring" was of critical geopolitical importance. Especially for the European Union (EU) this was the case mainly due to its geographic proximity. The EU has maritime borders with many of the affected muslim Arab countries in the Mediterranean. The Mediterranean has been defined as a homogenous region of interest for the EU since 1972, with the establishment of the Global Mediterranean Policy. The Mediterranean region constructed by the EU refers to the EU’s southern Arab neighbours (and Israel, Turkey), which includes many of the countries affected by the "Arab Spring". Due to this geographic proximity the EU has certain interests and agendas in the region.

Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)

• The “Arab Spring” and the European Union
• Literature Review
• Methodology
• The “Arab Spring” in Egypt
  • Timeline and actors
  • Causes
• The EU's External Relations
  • External Relations Policy Fields and Official Interests
  • The EU's construction of the Mediterranean
• EU external relations with Egypt
  • European External Relations with Egypt before the “Arab Spring”
    • Trade and economic policy
    • Foreign Policy and Diplomacy
    • Development Policy
    • Security Policy
    • Discussion
  • EU external relations with Egypt during the “Arab Spring”
    • Economic and Trade Policy
    • Foreign Policy
    • Development Policy
    • Security Policy
    • Discussion
  • EU external relations with Egypt after the “Arab Spring”
    • Economic Policy
    • Foreign Policy
    • Development Policy
    • Security Policy
    • Discussion
  • Reflexion

Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)

This bachelor thesis seeks to examine the changes in the European Union's external relations with the Arab Republic of Egypt before, during, and after the "Arab Spring." The focus will be on the impact of this turbulent period on the EU's engagement with Egypt, considering key aspects like economic policy, foreign policy, development policy, and security policy. The thesis will explore the motives and agendas behind these changes, shedding light on how the EU navigated the complexities of the "Arab Spring" and its aftermath.

• The impact of the "Arab Spring" on EU external relations with Egypt
• The EU's strategic interests in the Mediterranean region
• The EU's response to political instability and democratic transitions in the Arab world
• The evolving dynamics of economic, foreign, development, and security policies within the EU's engagement with Egypt
• The EU's approach to managing migration flows from the Mediterranean region

Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)

This section will provide summaries of each chapter in the text, focusing on the main arguments and themes, while excluding summaries of the conclusion or final chapter.

• Chapter 1: This chapter provides an overview of the "Arab Spring" and its significance for the European Union. It explores the origins of the movement, the key actors involved, and the diverse outcomes across various Arab countries. The chapter emphasizes the geopolitical importance of the "Arab Spring" for the EU, particularly due to its proximity to the affected countries and its strategic interests in the Mediterranean region.
• Chapter 2: This chapter presents a review of relevant literature, analyzing existing research on the EU's external relations with Egypt and the broader context of the "Arab Spring." It examines different theoretical perspectives and empirical findings to establish a foundation for the thesis's analysis.
• Chapter 3: This chapter outlines the methodology employed in the thesis, explaining the research methods used to gather and analyze data. It describes the sources consulted and the analytical framework applied to understand the dynamics of EU-Egypt relations.
• Chapter 4: This chapter focuses on the "Arab Spring" in Egypt, examining the timeline of events, key actors, and underlying causes. It analyzes the complex political and social dynamics that led to the Egyptian uprising and its consequences.
• Chapter 5: This chapter examines the EU's external relations policy, exploring its key policy fields, official interests, and strategic vision for the Mediterranean region. It analyzes the EU's approach to its southern neighbors, including Egypt, and its evolving engagement with the region.
• Chapter 6: This chapter provides a detailed analysis of the EU's external relations with Egypt before, during, and after the "Arab Spring." It examines the EU's policies in various areas, including economic, foreign, development, and security policy. The chapter explores how the EU adjusted its approach to Egypt in response to the changing political landscape and the challenges of the "Arab Spring."

Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)

The key terms and concepts explored in this thesis include: "Arab Spring," EU external relations, Egypt, Mediterranean region, geopolitical importance, economic policy, foreign policy, development policy, security policy, migration, instability, democratic transitions, strategic interests, and the EU's approach to the changing political landscape in the Arab world.

• College: University of Bonn
• Grade: 2.0
• Author: Michael McKiney (Author)
• Publication Year: 2020
• Pages: 50
• Catalog Number: V983513
• ISBN (eBook): 9783346339416
• ISBN (Book): 9783346339423
• Language: English
• Tags: geopolitics, arabspring, egypt