Advancing womens human rights outside the EU: a case study of the EU external action towards Algeria and Tunisia

Abstract

Is the EU external action effective and efficient in promoting women's human rights in third states? This thesis explores the question in a case study on Algeria and Tunisia. A process-tracing methodology is employed to determine the trends of the EU external action in terms of input and output. The input refers to the use of the EU external action to advance women's rights in Algeria and Tunisia, while the output consists in their actual advancement. After defining the methodology used, this thesis focuses on three aspects of the EU external action: (1) the effectiveness, (2) the efficiency, (3) the current reform. In all three aspects, findings show to what degree the EU external is living up to its commitments relative to women's rights and development cooperation. By collating, analysing and evaluating the past and present EU actions on the question, this thesis aims to contribute in an unprecedented way to the growing literature on women's rights in the context of the Arab Spring. Keywords: European Union, Algeria, Tunisia, International cooperation, conditionality, aid effectiveness, aid efficiency, women's rights, measuring human rights, Euro- Mediterranean partnership, external action.