%0 Journal Article
%T Europe and the Middle East: From Imperialism to Liberal Peace?
%A Raymond Hinnebusch
%J Review of European Studies
%D 2012
%I 
%R 10.5539/res.v4n3p18
%X Europe¡¯s relation with the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) is discussed in the context of normative (International Society) and materialist approaches (World System¡¯s Theory). First, European imperialism¡¯s export of a flawed Westphalian state system is summarized. How Europe is ¡°caught¡± between MENA and the US and co-opted into a division of labour toward the region is then surveyed. The gap between the normative rhetoric and actual inequitable outcomes and structures constructed under the Euro-Mediterranean partnership is examined, looking at the three ¡°baskets¡± of economic developmental, political reform and cultural convergence. Four ¡°hard cases,¡± EU policies toward Palestine, Iran, Syria and Turkey, illustrate the ambiguities of the EU¡¯s approach to MENA. MENA public opinion¡¯s ambivalence toward Europe reflects these realities. The conclusion is that the EU¡¯sMENA policy is caught between the rhetoric of post-colonialism and practices of neo-colonialism.
%U http://www.ccsenet.org/journal/index.php/res/article/view/18429