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The EU-Pacific EPA Negotiations

Sheahan, Linda LU (2009) STVM17 20091
Department of Political Science
Abstract
This master thesis explores the controversy surrounding the European Union (EU) and Pacific, in their joint negotiation of an Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA), from late 2005 to early 2009. A qualitative approach is adopted, employing constructivist and post-structuralist theory, to examine the basic discourses relevant to the negotiations. Through this, each side’s key images of ideology (development and the EPAs), self and other (identity, roles and role performance) are examined and compared.
The EU is found to bear a strong pro-liberalisation discourse, which is not matched on the Pacific side. These different understandings of development permeate into role conceptions, which are then frustrated by the differing ideologies and... (More)
This master thesis explores the controversy surrounding the European Union (EU) and Pacific, in their joint negotiation of an Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA), from late 2005 to early 2009. A qualitative approach is adopted, employing constructivist and post-structuralist theory, to examine the basic discourses relevant to the negotiations. Through this, each side’s key images of ideology (development and the EPAs), self and other (identity, roles and role performance) are examined and compared.
The EU is found to bear a strong pro-liberalisation discourse, which is not matched on the Pacific side. These different understandings of development permeate into role conceptions, which are then frustrated by the differing ideologies and by differing conceptions of the source of pressure within the negotiations. The findings indicate that despite much good will on both sides, incompatible discourses, development ideologies and inconsistent role conceptions are inhibiting the negotiations thus far. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
Sheahan, Linda LU
supervisor
organization
alternative title
A study of the compatibility of discourses, ideology and roles in the negotiation of an Economic Partnership Agreement between the European Union and the Pacific ACP countries
course
STVM17 20091
year
type
H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
subject
keywords
Pacific, EU, identity, Negotiation, European Affairs, Roles, Discourses, EPA
language
English
id
1398989
date added to LUP
2009-09-21 08:26:57
date last changed
2009-09-21 08:26:57
@misc{1398989,
  abstract     = {{This master thesis explores the controversy surrounding the European Union (EU) and Pacific, in their joint negotiation of an Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA), from late 2005 to early 2009. A qualitative approach is adopted, employing constructivist and post-structuralist theory, to examine the basic discourses relevant to the negotiations. Through this, each side’s key images of ideology (development and the EPAs), self and other (identity, roles and role performance) are examined and compared. 
The EU is found to bear a strong pro-liberalisation discourse, which is not matched on the Pacific side. These different understandings of development permeate into role conceptions, which are then frustrated by the differing ideologies and by differing conceptions of the source of pressure within the negotiations. The findings indicate that despite much good will on both sides, incompatible discourses, development ideologies and inconsistent role conceptions are inhibiting the negotiations thus far.}},
  author       = {{Sheahan, Linda}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{The EU-Pacific EPA Negotiations}},
  year         = {{2009}},
}