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The Argumentative dimension in the EPA negotiations

Lee, Donna (2013) The Argumentative dimension in the EPA negotiations. International Negotiation, 18 (1). pp. 67-87. ISSN 1382-340X. E-ISSN 1571-8069. (doi:10.1163/15718069-12341250) (The full text of this publication is not currently available from this repository. You may be able to access a copy if URLs are provided) (KAR id:37458)

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Official URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1163/15718069-12341250

Abstract

The participation of developing countries in international trade negotiations is not only growing, so is their influence over the global trade agenda. This article highlights the increasing activism and impact of African states through a detailed study of the current Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) negotiations with the European Union (EU). In examining African resistance to EPAs, the article develops a constructivist approach to North-South trade negotiations that pays close attention to the role of development discourses. We argue that the growing willingness of African states to challenge the EU to deliver on its development promises during the decade-long EPA process was crucial to informing their sustained opposition to the EU’s goal of completing a comprehensive set of sub-regional economic agreements. We document African resistance to EU trade diplomacy in the EPAs, exploring how these otherwise weak countries were able to pursue normative based negotiation strategies by recourse to the EU’s promise of a ‘development partnership’.

Item Type: Article
DOI/Identification number: 10.1163/15718069-12341250
Uncontrolled keywords: Africa, European Union, development, negotiation, bargaining, norms, discourse, trade.
Subjects: J Political Science > JF Political institutions and public administration
J Political Science > JN Political institutions and public administration (Europe)
J Political Science > JZ International relations
Divisions: Divisions > Division of Human and Social Sciences > School of Politics and International Relations
Depositing User: Donna Lee
Date Deposited: 10 Dec 2013 16:27 UTC
Last Modified: 16 Feb 2021 12:50 UTC
Resource URI: https://kar.kent.ac.uk/id/eprint/37458 (The current URI for this page, for reference purposes)

University of Kent Author Information

Lee, Donna.

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