Democracy Promotion and Foreign Policy - by D Huber (Hardcover)

About the Book

"Democracy promotion is an established principle in US and EU foreign policies today, but how did it become so? In focusing on the promotion of democracy, this comparative study explores one of the most controversial foreign policy phenomena of our time. Drawing on a broad range of examples, from established Western models to fledgling democracies, Huber identifies the triggers and hindrances for democracy promotion and analyses the factors that have driven the United States and the European Union to include democracy promotion as an established principle into their foreign policies today. Why are democratic principles not always applied coherently, and why has democracy promotion varied so decisively over time and space? These questions prove critical in Huber's examination of three democratic promoters in their respective regions, at a time when democracy promotion first made inroads and emerged as an established foreign policy: the United States in Central and South America in the late 1970s and 1980s; the European Union in the Mediterranean neighbourhood in the 1990s and 2000s; and Turkey in the Middle East since the early 2000s. This study contributes to a more rigorous academic discussion of democracy, offering a comparative study that bridges the US-European divide"--

Book Synopsis

Democracy promotion is an established principle in US and EU foreign policies today, but how did it become so? This comparative study explores the promotion of democracy, focusing on exponents from emerging democracies alongside more established Western models, and investigates the impact of democratic interests on foreign policy.

Review Quotes

"This book is a terrific addition to the understanding of democracy promotion as a foreign policy goal. ... This study offers paths toward future rigorous research. Summing Up: Recommended. Upper-division undergraduates and above." (S. L. McMillan, Choice, Vol. 53 (5), January, 2016)

"The book addresses important gaps in international relations (IR) theory in general and in the study of democracy promotion in particular. It is a useful read for scholars and practitioners interested in democracy promotion but also in IR theory." (May Darwich, Democratization, Vol. 23 (4), September, 2015)

''There is no shortage in scholarship on democracy promotion despite its rather limited effectiveness. This book stands out, however, in its theoretical and empirical rigor. First, Daniela Huber explains why democracies unlike autocratic systems engage in promoting their own political systems on a global scale. She argues, 'it's identity, stupid!' Second, this book not only focuses on the U.S. and the EU, but also explains Turkish efforts at democracy promotion. A 'must-read' for both scholars and practitioners!'' - Professor Dr Thomas Risse, Freie Universität Berlin

''Many scholars argue for the need of breaking away from the dogmatic clutch of monolithic theory. Daniela Huber actually does so and delivers the good promise in a pluralistic and dialogical perspective. Huber draws from varied International Relations theoretical traditions like neo-realism and constructivism and successfully integrates them in her own original theoretical model. By combining strategic, identitive, and normative reasoning, Huber's theoretical model forcefully explains U.S., EU and Turkey's democratization policies within their neighborhoods, and thus offers some policy-relevant insights for the post Arab Spring world.'' - Dr Piki Ish-Shalom, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem

''This is a theoretically sophisticated, insightful and empirically well-researched book. Daniela Huber advances a novel theoretical argument and makes a key contribution to a major issue in IR and foreign policy: the conditions under which democratic/Western powers will promote democracy in their neighborhood. The study integrates causal factors from realism and constructivism in a very thoughtful way. It is also a policy-relevant book for the post-Cold War and post-9/11 eras and particularly following the Arab Spring.'' - Professor Dr Benjamin Miller, Dartmouth College

About the Author

Daniela Huber is a researcher at the Istituto Affari Internazionali, Rome. Her research is focused primarily on the Mediterranean and the Middle East, as well as Turkey and the European Union's eastern neighbours programs. She holds a PhD from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, a Masters in International Relations from the Free University of Berlin, and has previously worked for the United Nations.