Norms, self-interest and effectiveness: explaining double standards in EU reactions to violations of democratic principles in Sub-Saharan Africa

Karen Del Biondo

doi:10.21825/af.v25i2.4953

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Norms, self-interest and effectiveness: explaining double standards in EU reactions to violations of democratic principles in Sub-Saharan Africa

Author: Karen Del Biondo (Department of Political Sciences, Ghent University, Belgium)

Abstract

Democracy promotion is often criticized for its double standards: in some countries, negative measures (public criticism, sanctions) are used, while in other countries there is a preference for positive measures (incentives, dialogue and capacity building). While such double standards have also been observed in European Union (EU) policies (Brummer, 2009; Warkotsch, 2008), few studies have thoroughly investigated the reasons for these double standards, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa.

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How to Cite: Del Biondo, K. (2012) “Norms, self-interest and effectiveness: explaining double standards in EU reactions to violations of democratic principles in Sub-Saharan Africa”, Afrika Focus. 25(2). doi: https://doi.org/10.21825/af.v25i2.4953