MENA and the EU: contrasting approaches to region, power and order in a shared neighbourhood

ABSTRACT

This article aims to analyse the different power relationships and resulting interactions between the major Middle Eastern powers and the European Union in their shared neighbourhood. After examining some background conditions relating to the local and international power dynamics in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), it considers first the perspective of the major MENA powers, then moves to a discussion of the different interactions that have characterized relations between MENA and EU states over time. It argues that major power relations in the MENA neighbourhood have been both dynamic and competitive and primarily reflective of the interests of dominant actors. Leadership is fragmented and institutions have had limited effects. Regional order remains elusive and depends upon developing shared and improved understandings of the region among its multiple stakeholders.

KEYWORDS:

• Major powers
• Middle East
• European Union

Acknowledgement

I thank the special issue editors and an anonymous referee for very helpful comments.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.

Notes on contributor

Louise Fawcett, Professor of International Relations, Wilfrid Knapp Fellow and Tutor in Politics, St Catherine's College, University of Oxford.

Notes

1 Iran Overview – World Bank: www.worldbank.org/en/country/iran/overview.

2 https://eeas.europa.eu/headquarters/headquarters-homepage/336/middle-east-and-north-africa-mena_en (accessed August 2017).