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February 12, 2002
REVIEWS (ENGLISH): Focus on Europe
This publication is a compilation of papers and speeches read at a seminar on European Union-Asia relations held in October 2001 by Karachi University’s Area Study Centre for Europe. A major difficulty in discussing the subject, as the editor of this compilation points out, is that whereas Europe is moving towards unity, vast and populous Asia is not an entity and unlikely ever to become one. Asian countries do not share a common history or culture, and while ASEAN has developed into an effective regional group, SAARC remains divided by the India-Pakistan animosity.
Perforce, the scope and nature of the European Union’s relationships differ from country to country and group to group. However as the EU tries to evolve a common foreign and security policy, it is trying to evolve a common approach to Asian, and other developing, countries. The EU representative at the seminar affirmed that the American policy of sanctions and embargoes is not seen by the Union as an effective way of resolving all conflicts and believes rather in remaining constructively engaged with all countries in order to attain political stability and sustainable economic development.
The European Union’s aim, he said, was to promote abroad the principles of good governance, respect for human rights, democracy and the rule of law. For, he declared, “Free societies tend not to fight each other. Countries that treat their citizens decently are the best international political and trade partners.”
Developing countries see the EU’s concern over, for instance, child labour or environment, as self-serving and aimed at taking away the competitive advantage of their exporting industries. Some Asian countries extol the virtues of “Asian values” such as putting the good of the community above that of the individual. The ideological contention conceals of course differences over more specific matters. Governments of developed countries are under political pressure to save their “threatened” industries. The European Union’s approach to democracy and human rights is not free of double standards, for example, in its policies on East Timor and Kashmir respectively or in putting commercial advantage above political principle.
On the other hand when authoritarian governments curb liberties and hound their opponents in the name of “Asian values” these claims must be taken with a pinch of salt. However, solutions do emerge at the pragmatic level as for instance when EU pressures helped to ameliorate the condition of child workers in Sialkot’s sports good industry and improved hygienic conditions at the Karachi fish harbour and in both cases improved also the export of the commodities concerned.
As the euro knits more closely together the European economies, as the Union expands eastwards (eventually including perhaps also Muslim Turkey) and evolves a coherent foreign policy and an independent military capability, Europe is bound to occupy an increasingly important place in the world’s political economy. Europe may then mitigate and provide a counterweight to the domination of the United States as the world’s sole superpower and political arbiter. The need for such a balancing force is all too evident in the light of the way the United States is conducting its current “War on terror”.
In Pakistan, thinking and policy on foreign affairs have remained focussed mainly on the United States. It is time to enlarge the perspective. The seminar on Europe-Asia relations was a timely initiative and confirms the Study Centre’s well-earned reputation for serious and useful work.
European Union-Asia relations in the 21st century: problems, prospects and strategies
Edited by Naveed Ahmad Tahir
Area Study Centre for Europe, University of Karachi in cooperation with the Hanns Seidel Foundation, Islamabad
ISBN 969-8551-03-4
348pp. Rs350. $15
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