The Role of Spain in the European Union - Cuba Relations: A Qualitative Research on Spain's Contribution to the European Union Foreign Policy Decision-Making Towards Cuba
Author
Ebit, Melike
Term
4. term
Education
Publication year
2014
Submitted on
2014-07-31
Pages
70
Abstract
EU’s udenrigspolitik har til formål at fremme fred, demokratiske principper og internationalt samarbejde, men det er særligt udfordrende at føre dialog med ikke‑demokratiske stater som Cuba. Denne kandidatafhandling undersøger forholdet mellem EU og Cuba gennem Spaniens rolle som medlemsstat med udgangspunkt i socialkonstruktivisme (ideer og identiteter former interesser) og liberal institutionalisme (institutioner understøtter samarbejde og sætter spilleregler). Undersøgelsen bygger på et kvalitativt casestudie med fortolkende analyse af beslutningsprocesser i EU’s udenrigspolitik og ser på, hvordan aktører – især spanske medlemmer af Europa-Parlamentet – skaber deres interesser og politiske linjer. Analysen viser, at Spanien ofte fungerer som mægler mellem EU og Cuba og under bestemte betingelser kan påvirke EU’s politik over for Cuba. Den spansk–EU–cubanske trekant tydeliggør samspillet mellem nationale og europæiske dynamikker, balancen mellem Rådet og Parlamentet samt ideologiske spændinger, der leder til forskellige politiske tilgange.
The European Union’s foreign policy aims to promote peace, democratic principles, and international cooperation, but engaging with non-democratic states such as Cuba is especially challenging. This master’s thesis examines EU–Cuba relations through Spain’s role as a Member State, using a social constructivist lens (ideas and identities shape interests) alongside liberal institutionalism (institutions enable cooperation and set rules). The study uses a qualitative case study with interpretive analysis of EU foreign policy decision-making to understand how actors—particularly Spanish Members of the European Parliament—define their interests and policy positions. The analysis finds that Spain often acts as a mediator between the EU and Cuba and, under certain conditions, can influence EU policy toward Cuba. The Spain–EU–Cuba triangle highlights the interplay between national and EU-level dynamics, the balance between the Council and the Parliament, and ideological differences that lead to distinct policy approaches.
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