Understanding EU crisis diplomacy in the European neighbourhood: strategic narratives and perceptions of the EU in Ukraine, Israel and Palestine

Chaban, Natalia; O’Loughlin, Ben

doi:10.1080/09662839.2019.1648251

Cited by 17 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 44 publications

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“…The relatively low levels of perceived salience and polarization of EU development aid in Ukraine are arguably surprising as perceptions of EU-Ukraine relations in the areas of security and association policy seem to be characterized by a very high degree of salience and considerable polarization (Elgström et al, 2018;Chaban et al, 2019b), further demonstrated in an analysis of the EU's conflict management role in the Russia-Ukraine conflict (Chaban et al, 2019a). Future studies may explore if the new leadership of Ukraine and new challenges to the EU by Covid-19 earmark any shifts in such perceptions.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Politicization of EU Development Policy: The Role of EU External Perceptions (Case of Ukraine)

Chaban

Elgström

2021

J of Common Market Studies

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This article highlights the role of external audiences and their perceptions in analysing the politicization of EU development policy. We analyse how EU foreign assistance is understood in two different intermediary arenas of politicization – elites in different societal sectors and media – within Ukraine, a major recipient of EU aid. By investigating to what extent EU assistance is perceived to be politicized, in terms of salience and polarization we contribute to the debate on outside‐in politicization. Applying a perceptual approach to EU foreign policy studies, we focus on Ukrainian images of Self in its relation to the EU as a development actor and on Ukraine's evaluations of EU assistance. We consult the theory of framing and propose an operationalization of salience in terms of visibility, cultural congruence and emotive charge. We use the typology of cognitive, evaluative and affective images from political psychology to operationalize the notion of polarization.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Politicization of EU Development Policy: The Role of EU External Perceptions (Case of Ukraine)

Chaban

Elgström

2021

J of Common Market Studies

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“…International actors are always wrapped in narratives about their place in the world, identity and policies, 79 but probably none has been formulated and projected in normative terms as much as the EU's narratives. These include the EU as a wealthy area with a heavy economic weight in the world; the EU as a community, hence characterized by internal solidarity and as such a model to be imitated; the EU as a normative bastion and supporter of human rights; the EU as home to an efficient welfare state, capable of taking care of its citizens; the EU as an ever growing project; and the EU as a champion of peacethese are perhaps the most wellknown narratives about the EU.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Reassessing External Images of the EU: Evolving Narratives in Times of Crisis

Lucarelli¹,

Chaban²

2021

EERR

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The past decade has challenged the EU and its international image. The Eurozone sovereign debt crisis, the Ukraine crisis, the so-called irregular migration crisis and the Covid-19 pandemic have all put the EU under severe strain. This article explores if and how the EU’s performance in such crises has impacted upon the external image of the EU. The analysis shows that external images have closely followed the EU’s actual performance, although filtering it through the powerful lenses of local and regional concerns and sensibilities. While some traditional images have proved to be resilient in the longer run (as in the case of the EU as an economic powerhouse or a frequently divided community), others have been severely weakened by the EU’s crisis responses (such as the EU as a bastion of human rights). Our findings contribute to the discussion on the public diplomacy and information strategy of the European External Action Service (EEAS) in shaping locally-resonating positive images of the EU worldwide. external images of the EU, multiple crises of the EU, EU public diplomacy

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“…Importantly, while strategic narratives are typically carefully curated by political actors, they are polysemic and involve “multiple narrators and channels, and negotiated meaning” (Pamment, 2014a, p. 50). In the EU's case, such polysemy is further exacerbated by its sui generis institutional design and the additional challenges it faces in garnering external legitimacy (Chaban et al ., 2019).…”

Section: Theory and Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Public diplomacy in an age of perpetual crisis: assessing the EU's strategic narratives through six crises

Manfredi-Sánchez

Smith

2022

JCOM

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PurposeThe purpose of this research is to identify the strengths and weaknesses of the EU's public diplomacy – towards both domestic and external audiences – during times of crisis. The EU's public diplomacy is examined across six major crises: the Eurozone crisis (2008), the Ukrainian crisis (2014), the migrant crisis (2015), the Brexit referendum (2016), the new transatlantic relationship (2017) and the COVID-19 pandemic (2019). The goal of examining these crises in conjunction is to derive policy-relevant insights.Design/methodology/approachThis article adopts a problem-driven approach – the problem being how successful is the EU at public diplomacy during times of crisis – that draws theoretical and empirical insights from Communication Studies, International Relations and EU studies via a “strategic narratives” framework. It situates the EU as a unique public diplomacy actor, one which is becoming more prominent due to the mediatisation of diplomacy, especially driven by the advent of cyberspace.FindingsThe article finds that the EU has been experiencing a cycle of crises that have affected the political, economic, symbolic and social foundations of the common project. The EU has had some notable success – such as restoring confidence at the height of the Eurozone crisis – and some notable challenges – such as effectively combatting disinformation. Regardless, the EU has the potential to better manage these and future crises by engaging in an effective public diplomacy strategy that tells a shared European story that informs and inspires people, both domestically and externally.Originality/valueThe article offers an original examination of the EU's public diplomacy response to six different crises. It looks at different types of crises and utilises concepts from different social science perspectives. It offers novel strategic and policy recommendations.

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Understanding EU crisis diplomacy in the European neighbourhood: strategic narratives and perceptions of the EU in Ukraine, Israel and Palestine

Cited by 17 publications

References 44 publications

Politicization of EU Development Policy: The Role of EU External Perceptions (Case of Ukraine)

Politicization of EU Development Policy: The Role of EU External Perceptions (Case of Ukraine)

Reassessing External Images of the EU: Evolving Narratives in Times of Crisis

Public diplomacy in an age of perpetual crisis: assessing the EU's strategic narratives through six crises

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