AbstractsPolitical Science

The purpose of this project is to investigate the role of history in international relations (IR) with the focus on the state of Israel. The perception of Israel is conflicting as it is acknowledged as being a democracy, but also known for its human rights violations and illegal settlements in Palestine. It is therefore questionable why international organizations, which in this case is the European Union (EU) still negotiates with Israel as these matters are in contrary to the EU's democratic values and principles. In order to understand this relation between the EU and Israel, the project uses social constructivism in IR. It emphasizes the importance of ideas and believes in the international society which history has an influence on. Furthermore, the focus is put on Germany and the United Kingdom due to them both having leading roles in the EU framework and historical connections with the state of Israel. Thus, Germany and the UK, as independent national states will be used to analyze whether their ideas and norms towards Israel through historical linkage affect their foreign policy towards Israel an also the EU's foreign policy towards Israel. Furthermore, this project will also make use of the integration theories neo functionalism and intergovernmentalism to both analyze and discuss whether and how Germany and the UK influence on the European Union's foreign policy.