EADI Working group on ‘Governance and Development’
EU Co-Operation with ‘Difficult’ Partners
in Helsinki 24.-25. April 2008
The EADI Working group on ‘Governance and Development’ will organise a meeting in Helsinki as part of the annual conference of the Finnish Society for Development Research (see Annex II). The theme our workshop is “EU Co-operation with ‘difficult’ partners”.
The concept of "difficult partners" in international relations refers to countries which are constantly violating international norms and principles but with which the international community still seeks to cooperate. Whether deliberate or stemming from lack of capacity to fulfil joint agreements, such behaviour poses difficult dilemmas to other countries and international organisations. The EU, for instance, is committed to the goal of poverty reduction which means that it has to cooperate with poor states even when these do not respect common principles. There is also more systematic opposition to western "ethical" foreign policy emphasis: for example, China’s growing aid without political conditions has received attention. If Western governments impose sanctions as part of political conditionality toward "misbehaving" African governments, is it China that fills the vacuum? Security considerations and conflict prevention is another angle to the general theme. Coercive methods often isolate countries which may lead to state failure. State failure, for its part, is related to several conflict risks, including that of terrorism. In the EU Security Strategy this is grasped with the notion of "preventive engagement". The general approach of the EU is to "remain engaged" with difficult partners. There are, however, some states towards which coercive methods and direct pressure towards the government is considered a more appropriate policy. Is economic performance, economic importance, or perhaps geographical location the defining factor when choosing the criteria for engagement?
It is clear that the policies of the international community are far from consistent but is consistency even worth striving for? After all, difficult partners are different and their violations of international norms stem from different sources. Should international policies take these issues into account in the name of effectiveness? And, when and how should the international community acknowledge failure in implementing sanctions: for example, the "smart sanctions" that were imposed against Zimbabwean government five years ago are still in force with no positive results.
Our aim is to produce high-level articles that will be published. We consider the possibility of an edited volume, but can also limit our role to commenting and encouraging the participants to submit their papers to journals, for example, the European Journal of Development Research (EJDR)
Deadline for paper proposals/abstracts: 14.3.08. To be sent to Liisa Laakso at lilaakso(AT)yfi.jyu.fi and/or Gordon Crawford at g.crawford(AT)leeds.ac.uk
Accepted paper givers to be informed by 27.3.08. Abstracts will be published on the net.
http://www.kehitystutkimus.fi/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&layout=blog&id=35&Itemid=55
(online registration will be opened soon!)
EU Co-Operation with 'Difficult' Partners
Programme:
24 April 2008 at 13.00 -18.00
25 April 2008 at 13.15-14.30
Session I
Good Governance, Human Rights and Democracy Promotion
Speakers:
· Nargis Kassenova “EU-Central Asia relations, with special focus on the issues of governance and development”
· Gordon Crawford “EU Human Rights and Democracy Promotion in Central Asia: From Lofty Principles to Lowly Self-Interests”
Session II
Conditionality and the Goal of Consistency Revisited
Speakers:
· Tandi Nkiwane, UNISA SA, “The case of Zimbabwe”
· Liisa Laakso “Consultations and appropriate measures under the Cotonou
Agreement”
Sessions III-IV
Humanitarian Assistance / Cooperation with Civil Society / Security Issues
DEVELOPMENT, JUSTICE, GOVERNANCE:
NEW CHALLENGES IN THE GLOBAL SOUTH
Conference organized by the Finnish Society for Development Research
in partnership with Institute of Development Studies, University of Helsinki and European Association for Development Research (EADI)
University of Helsinki, 24–25 April 2008
Preliminary Programme
Thursday, 24 April
9.30-10.15 Registration
10.15-10.20 Welcome: Prof. Juhani Koponen, Institute of Development Studies, Univ. of Helsinki
10.20-10.30 Introduction to Development Days2008: Dr. Anja Nygren and M.A. Joni Valkila, Finnish Society for Development Research
10.30-11.45 Keynote Presentation on Ethical Trade, Dr. Stephanie Barrientos (University of Manchester, UK)
11.45-13.00 Lunch
13.00-15.00 Workshops
15.00-15.30 Coffee
15.30-18.00 Workshops
19.00 -> Social gathering
Friday, 25 April
9.30-10.45 Governance in Africa, Prof. Severine Rugumamu (Univ. of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania) and Prof. Tandeka Nkiwane (Univ. of South Africa)
10.45-11.15 Coffee
11.15-12.15 Keynote Presentation “PEST or Panacea? Science, Democracy, and the Promise of Public Participation”, Prof. David Demeritt (King’s College, Univ. of London, UK)
12.15-13.15 Lunch
13.15-14.30 Workshops
14.30-15.00 Coffee
15.00-16.30 Roundtable: Institutional Partnerships (Representants from UniPid, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, partners from Southern Universities, Institute of Development Studies).
16.30-16.40 Closing of the Conference
