Transversal democracy projection in the Mediterranean : a de-centred practice analysis

Abstract

This book expands on the existing literature on the international dimension of democratization by introducing the concept of democracy projection. Democracy projection is defined as the projection of (democratic) norms through the every-day practice of interactions - beyond any donor-recipient relationship - between states and foreign civil society actors on issue areas where both sides have interests to defend.

The edited volume examines a variety of such issue areas, including trade, anti-corruption, applied research, gender and LGBTI, focusing on EU practices in its everyday dealings with civil society in the Southern Mediterranean. Based on comparative case studies relying on extensive interviews, direct observations and content analysis, the chapters in this book conclude that the extent to which democracy is projected varies according to four main factors: the EU’s perceived interest, its ideational commitment to norms of dialogue and inclusion, the degree of institutional inertia, and dominant discourses/structures of meanings which preclude EU engagement on substance.

Transversal Democracy Projection in the Mediterranean will be of interest to students and scholars of Political Science, International Relations, and Democratisation studies. The chapters in this book were originally published as a special issue of Mediterranean Politics.