Foreign Policy and Dissensus over Liberal Democracy

This chapter examines how internal dissensus over liberal democracy among EU member states constrains EU foreign policy, particularly in its efforts to promote liberal democratic values. While the EU has long positioned itself as a normative power committed to democracy, human rights, and the rule of law, increasing disagreements among member states regarding the meaning and prioritisation of these values have undermined the coherence and effectiveness of its external action. Through case studies of Kosovo and Ukraine, the chapter shows how both severe normative dissensus, stemming from conflicting views on core liberal democratic principles among member states, and mild procedural dissensus, generated by disagreements over strategy and instruments to pursue liberal democracy abroad, have weakened EU unity. Against this backdrop, informal groups like the Quint, Berlin Process, Normandy Format, and Weimar + Group have emerged to bypass institutional deadlock. The chapter argues that while enabling limited collective action, these groups run the risk of deepening policy fragmentation. Without addressing internal divisions and reforming EU institutional construction, it concludes, the EU credibility as a promoter of liberal democracy and its global influence will remain compromised.