Epistemic (un)certainty in times of crisis: The role of coherence as a social convention in the European Neighbourhood Policy after the Arab Spring

Natorski, Michal

doi:10.1177/1354066115599043

Article (Scientific journals)

Epistemic (un)certainty in times of crisis: The role of coherence as a social convention in the European Neighbourhood Policy after the Arab Spring

Natorski, Michal

2016 • In European Journal of International Relations

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https://hdl.handle.net/2268/192075

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10.1177/1354066115599043

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Keywords :

Coherence, crisis, epistemology; European Neighbourhood Policy; European Union, institutions

Abstract :

[en] Academic wisdom assumes that crises precipitate institutional and policy changes in domestic and international politics. However, the relation between crises and policy outcomes is under-theorised. This article conceptualises epistemic coherence as a factor that links crises and their consequences through policy continuity. Crises expose contradictions and inconsistencies, which create uncertainty. Therefore, actors seek to recover the epistemic certainty provided by coherence, which tacitly informs, structures and simplifies actors’ interpretation of reality, even during crisis. For this reason, the role of coherence in policy ideas and institutional rules remains essential to understanding policy continuity. This article illustrates the role of coherence in the policy continuity of the European Neighbourhood Policy in the context of the Arab Spring and the changes in the institutional architecture of European Union foreign policy during 2010–2011.

Disciplines :

Political science, public administration & international relations

Author, co-author :

Natorski, Michal ; Université de Liège > Département de science politique > Relations internationales

Language :

English

Title :

Epistemic (un)certainty in times of crisis: The role of coherence as a social convention in the European Neighbourhood Policy after the Arab Spring

Publication date :

2016

Journal title :

European Journal of International Relations

ISSN :

1354-0661

eISSN :

1460-3713

Publisher :

SAGE Publications

Peer reviewed :

Peer Reviewed verified by ORBi

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since 23 January 2016

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