Abstract:
In the 2019 European Union (EU) renewed Strategy for Central Asia,
the promotion of democracy in the post-soviet republics of
Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan
is singled out as one of the key priorities. This article aims to
examine whether there is an alignment between the EU selfperception on democracy promotion and its external perception
in local media. The question is addressed through quantitative
and qualitative content analysis of the EU key documents for
Central Asia and local media outlets from 2019 to 2022, using the
Nvivo software. The research findings indicate that both self- and
external perceptions align in the context of the EU human rights
promotion for Central Asia. Drawing upon these findings, this
article argues that the EU democracy promotion endeavours are
predominantly grasped in Central Asia within the sphere of
human rights, while comprehension of other facets of the EU
democracy promotion agenda remains intricate. Consequently, as
the EU normative agenda faces ongoing scrutiny within Central
Asia, it is advocated that the EU undertake a thorough
reassessment of its approach in the region, aiming to foster
deeper understanding and alignment with local perceptions.
