Interests, Ideals and the Limits of Influence
The European Union and Central Asia
Deutsche Fassung
Abstract
Since 2001, the European Union has developed a growing interest in Central Asia. The reason is the region’s energy resources as well as the goal of pursuing a preventive security policy. This includes linking co-operation with the maintenance of human rights and minimal standards of democracy. The outlook for success is slight, however. With Russia and China, two states are active in the region that have much more potential as regional powers, and that support the authoritarian regimes. At most, the EU can seize a certain room for manoeuvre as a counterweight to the two regional great powers.
(Osteuropa 8-9/2007, pp. 327–338)