The European Union in Yemen: The Triumph of Pragmatism over Normativity?

While much has been written concerning the engagement of the European Union (EU) with North Africa and the Middle East, the case of Yemen has rarely been considered. This is in spite of the perception that a ‘perfect storm’ of authoritarian rule, internal conflict, resource depletion, and radical Islamism could result in the emergence of significant regional and international security threats from the country. This paper examines the role of the EU in Yemen in the context of a series of major socio-economic and political challenges facing the country and the absence of an effective state response. The paper argues for the existence of a pragmatic core to the policies and interventions of the EU, which belies its rhetorically normative stance.