|
Abstract:
Much of the European Union's foreign policy in practice is conducted through its bilateral contractual relations with third parties. These have taken different forms, ranging from the accession process to looser forms of association. Contractual ties are characterized by the delivery of specific benefits governed by mutual obligations, which can thus potentially transform the incentive structure underpinning conflicts within or between third states. The aim of this article is to compare the manner in which the Union's bilateral relations have affected two key conflict areas in its neighbourhood: the dispute between the Turkish state and the Kurds, and that between Israelis and Palestinians. The Union's relations with the parties in these two conflicts differ significantly. Yet in view of these very differences, a comparison between the EU's role in both conflicts could prove fruitful. It could offer important insights on the potential benefits and effective limits of the Union as a third party actor in conflict settlement and resolution in its turbulent neighbourhood.
|
