External publications

From transformation to stability? European democracy support in the Middle East and North Africa since the Arab Uprisings

Bodenstein, Thilo / Mark Furness
External Publications (2026)

in: Orient 67 (4), 7-16

Information

Since the Arab Uprisings, the objective of European democracy support in the Middle East and North Africa has shifted from political transformation towards pragmatic, development-oriented engagement. The EU faces an essential dilemma between its interest in democracy and the need to engage with authoritarian regimes seen as essential for regional stability. In an increasingly multipolar region, Europe needs to maintain its offer of democracy support but rethink how to make it more effective.

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