Normative Power Europe, in Times of War? : A discourse analysis exploring the politics of sanctions against Russia

Sammanfattning: Researchers have characterized the European Union as a normative power that carries the potential of shaping conceptions of norms in international affairs. The theory of normative power embeds discursive standards to which an actor needs to adhere, by representing others in a non-antagonistic, humble way. This thesis examines these standards in the EU’s response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine on the 24th of February 2022, by aiming to unpack the ideas and the discourse used by the EU to justify its decision to implement sanctions against Russia. The analysis indicates that the EU fails to adhere to these standards while representing Russia in an antagonistic manner. However, the ideas to which the EU ascribes its reasons for implementing sanctions are partly in line with those of a normative power: peace, democracy, rule of law, and human rights, but the results suggest that the EU rather constructs itself as a civilian power.