EU policymakers are increasingly using sanctions as a policy instrument within the framework of the EU’s Common Foreign and Security Policy. This thesis aims to identify under what conditions the...Show moreEU policymakers are increasingly using sanctions as a policy instrument within the framework of the EU’s Common Foreign and Security Policy. This thesis aims to identify under what conditions the sanctions of the EU are most effective. Eight independent variables are identified as potential factors that could influence the effectiveness of sanctions, drawing from the International Relations (IR) theories of realism, liberalism and constructivism. Separate multivariate regression analyses are conducted for each IR theory, to assess the significance of the factors proposed by the theories. In addition, a comprehensive multivariate regression analysis is conducted, including the eight independent variables, in order to draw conclusions about the real-world scenario in which the multiple variables could interact. This analysis shows two significant results that influence the effectiveness of EU sanctions and would therefore be relevant for EU policymakers to understand while choosing their policy instrument and designing sanctions. Firstly, sanctions with higher costs imposed on the target demonstrate reduced effectiveness compared to those with lower costs. Secondly, the effectiveness of sanctions decreases when they are imposed on states possessing greater military capabilities. Yet, theoretical significance should not alone be paramount for societal relevance. Therefore, it would be relevant to further examine the variables that were only significant in the IR theory analyses or that indicated a large relation between the independent and dependent variable.Show less
The focus of this thesis lies on the European Union’s (EU) strategy toward counterterrorism, specifically from 2005 until 2022. How and why the EUs counterterrorism strategy has changed, and its...Show moreThe focus of this thesis lies on the European Union’s (EU) strategy toward counterterrorism, specifically from 2005 until 2022. How and why the EUs counterterrorism strategy has changed, and its effectiveness will be investigated. This is done through qualitative research where three policy documents: EU Counterterrorism Strategy (2005), EU Counterterrorism Agenda (2020) and the Security Compass (2022) are analyzed and compared. Throughout the thesis, it becomes clear that crisis significantly impacts the development of and change in EU counterterrorism policy.Show less
