| dc.description.abstract | Taking a novel approach to the study of the relationship between values and interests in EU foreign policy, this thesis is inspired by Johanne Døhlie Saltnes and her use of the concept of “norm collision” to try to find out if there might be a conflict between the goals of promoting human rights and democracy in the EU neighbourhood. The thesis asks to what extent LGBTI rights promotion has been reinforcing the presumptive values-interests dynamic of EU-Tunisia relations since the Arab Spring. The rise of the LGBTI rights norm as a part of EU foreign policy occurs more or less in parallel with the Arab Spring, hence the choice of topic. Although the thesis does not provide any conclusive answers, it points at some promising avenues for future research and makes a first attempt at creating a conceptual framework to suit the purpose of such research. | |