EUDIMENSIONS Final Project Conference EUDIMENSIONS Final Project Conference “Local Dimensions of a Wider European “Local Dimensions of a Wider European

Neighbourhood”Neighbourhood”May 7, 2009May 7, 2009

Representation of the German State of BrandenburgRepresentation of the German State of Brandenburg

108 Rue Joseph II, Brussels108 Rue Joseph II, Brussels

““Re-Re-cognizingcognizing ENP” ENP”Olivier Kramsch and Henk van Olivier Kramsch and Henk van

HoutumHoutumNijmegen Centre for Border Nijmegen Centre for Border

Research (NCBR)Research (NCBR)

Port Bou, SpainPort Bou, Spain

Benjamin’s 19Benjamin’s 19thth Century Century Dream-TimeDream-Time

Passage des Panoramas, Paris (1898)

Benjamin’s ‘Here and There, Now Benjamin’s ‘Here and There, Now and Then’: Refuting Linear and Then’: Refuting Linear ‘Progress”‘Progress”• The task: not to show how the past of the Arcades The task: not to show how the past of the Arcades

influences the present, nor how the present sheds influences the present, nor how the present sheds its light on the past (= theory of ‘progress’)…its light on the past (= theory of ‘progress’)…

• … … but to reveal in the ruins of the arcades a but to reveal in the ruins of the arcades a historical ‘truth’ historical ‘truth’ ‘awakening’ into a spatialized ‘awakening’ into a spatialized ‘now of recognizability’‘now of recognizability’

• By way of a new ‘angle of vision’, drawing a By way of a new ‘angle of vision’, drawing a redemptive redemptive new border new border which rescues elements which rescues elements that have the capacity to ‘fan the spark of hope in that have the capacity to ‘fan the spark of hope in the past’, to wrest historical tradition ‘anew… the past’, to wrest historical tradition ‘anew… from a conformism that is about to overpower it’ from a conformism that is about to overpower it’ (Benjamin, (Benjamin, IlluminationsIlluminations, p. 255), p. 255)

What is the EU’s ‘angle of What is the EU’s ‘angle of vision’ on the vision’ on the ‘Neighbourhood’?‘Neighbourhood’?

Hypothesis: The modern(izing) logic of enlargement haunts European Neighborhood space contradictions and entanglements of the political frontier.

Imperial Frontiers: Norms and FormsImperial Frontiers: Norms and Forms

• No firm border, but a ring of zones regulated by No firm border, but a ring of zones regulated by contact, mutual penetration, and exchange of gifts, contact, mutual penetration, and exchange of gifts, tributes and trade (Febvre, 1935)tributes and trade (Febvre, 1935)

• Universalizing elite norms, values and scripts Universalizing elite norms, values and scripts projected from centers break down and must be projected from centers break down and must be reinvented (ie, role of frontiers, enclaves and penal reinvented (ie, role of frontiers, enclaves and penal colonies as ‘laboratories’ for modern forms of colonies as ‘laboratories’ for modern forms of territorial rule) territorial rule)

• A space of paradox consistent with the contradictory A space of paradox consistent with the contradictory logics of modern European nation-building logics of modern European nation-building (liberty/freedom vs security) (liberty/freedom vs security)

• An An epistemologicalepistemological space of restless expansion, space of restless expansion, always escaping spatio-temporal enclosure always escaping spatio-temporal enclosure ‘frontier ‘frontier thinking’ (Turner, 1893; Curzon, 1907)thinking’ (Turner, 1893; Curzon, 1907)

Myths of the Frontier I: Against Myths of the Frontier I: Against Seeing ENP through an Seeing ENP through an ‘Enlargement Angle’‘Enlargement Angle’

““Enlargement has been a key tool in projecting Enlargement has been a key tool in projecting stability across our continent. But it is a reality that stability across our continent. But it is a reality that the EU cannot expand ad infinitum – everything the EU cannot expand ad infinitum – everything has its limits. We must honour our present basic has its limits. We must honour our present basic commitments, while strictly insisting on the commitments, while strictly insisting on the criteria. One of these criteria is our own absorption criteria. One of these criteria is our own absorption capacity - it is clear that in some M[ember] S[tates] capacity - it is clear that in some M[ember] S[tates] the pace and scale of enlargement is approaching the pace and scale of enlargement is approaching the limits of what public opinion will accept. To the limits of what public opinion will accept. To overstretch, rather than consolidate, the Union overstretch, rather than consolidate, the Union would be detrimental not only for us but also our would be detrimental not only for us but also our partners.”partners.”

(Landaburu, 2006) (Landaburu, 2006)

Myths of the Frontier II: ‘Same Myths of the Frontier II: ‘Same Conditionality’ as EnlargementConditionality’ as Enlargement

““[T]he neighbourhood policy is based on the same sort of [T]he neighbourhood policy is based on the same sort of positive conditionality which underpins the enlargement positive conditionality which underpins the enlargement processprocess. It is a two way process which requires significant . It is a two way process which requires significant willingness to change on the part of our neighbours. Only as willingness to change on the part of our neighbours. Only as they fulfil they fulfil theirtheir commitments on the rule of law, democracy commitments on the rule of law, democracy and respect for human rights; market-oriented economic and respect for human rights; market-oriented economic reforms, and on foreign policy objectives, can reforms, and on foreign policy objectives, can wewe offer an offer an even deeper relationship. There is no question of our even deeper relationship. There is no question of our forcing change or trying to impose reforms – we have forcing change or trying to impose reforms – we have sufficient examples around the globe of the problems with sufficient examples around the globe of the problems with such an approach. Rather we will offer concrete support to such an approach. Rather we will offer concrete support to our neighbours on their way towards shared prosperity, our neighbours on their way towards shared prosperity, security and stability.”security and stability.”

(Hübner, 2006; emphasis added)(Hübner, 2006; emphasis added)

Myths of the Frontier III: Improving Myths of the Frontier III: Improving ‘Coherence, Effectiveness.. ‘Coherence, Effectiveness.. Visibility”Visibility”

““So our communications strategy takes a So our communications strategy takes a two-fold approach, telling our story both two-fold approach, telling our story both within the EU – talking more about within the EU – talking more about substance and less about institutions, and substance and less about institutions, and externally – communicating with publics externally – communicating with publics across the world about what the EU stands across the world about what the EU stands for and the values we promote. We aim to for and the values we promote. We aim to tackle the sentiment expressed by tackle the sentiment expressed by Madeleine Albright that ‘To understand Madeleine Albright that ‘To understand Europe you have to be a genius’!”Europe you have to be a genius’!”

(Ferrero-Waldner, 2006) (Ferrero-Waldner, 2006)

Myths of the Frontier IV: Myths of the Frontier IV: Anxious ProvincializationsAnxious Provincializations

The ‘strategic landscape’ which existed The ‘strategic landscape’ which existed immediately following eastward immediately following eastward enlargement in May, 2004 has given enlargement in May, 2004 has given way to a ‘more menacing one, given way to a ‘more menacing one, given threats to European values bearing threats to European values bearing down on the EU from all sides.” down on the EU from all sides.”

(Emerson et al, 2007)(Emerson et al, 2007)

Profane Illumination? Profane Illumination? Mapping the ‘Threat’Mapping the ‘Threat’

Looking Past the Chimney Hole: Looking Past the Chimney Hole: From ‘Strategic Landscapes’ to the From ‘Strategic Landscapes’ to the Challenge of ‘Worldliness’Challenge of ‘Worldliness’

“The true method of making things present is: to represent them in our space (not to represent ourselves in their space)... It is, in essence, the same with the aspect of great things from the past – the cathedral of Chartres, the temple of Paestrum: to receive them into our space (not to feel empathy with their builders or their priests).”

(Benjamin, First sketches, p.846)