How the EU's principled pragmatism sows strife in the Middle East

http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/opinion/eu-principled-pragmatism-sows-strife-middle-east-181026135327438.html
Date Written:  2018-10-26
Publisher:  Al Jazeera
Year Published:  2018
Resource Type:  Article
Cx Number:  CX23055

A look at how the European Union is creating greater instability, distrust, and casualties like Jamal Khashoggi, by trading fundamental values such as human rights for more practical avenues coined as "principled pragmatism".

Abstract: 
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Excerpt:

The European Union prides itself on its democratic credentials, its support for human rights and its contribution to a rules-based international system. The murder of Khashoggi represents one of the most egregious violations of those principles, in the most visible way possible. Further, intelligence and circumstantial evidence confirm that the decision to target Khashoggi was taken at a high level, involving Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) and close members of his inner circle.

The EU's response to those violations was slow and limited. Indeed this feeble response can be seen as part of the policy of "principled pragmatism" the EU officially adopted in 2016. That policy allows the EU to set aside its more "tender-minded" liberal values and give primacy to tough-minded "realist" interests in realms of security, economy and migration.