This article analyses whether there has been an alignment between discourse and practice on democracy promotion in the EU’s approach to Jordan since the 2011 Arab uprisings. The analysis shows that what has often been described as a gap between the EU’s discourse and practice on democracy promotion seems to have narrowed, if not closed altogether, in Jordan. The normative discourse has become less high-flown in line with the new Global Strategy and the ENP Review, which both focus less on ‘common’ values and more on interests and what values the EU wishes to promote. Funding has become more targeted on more specific policy objectives related to democratic reform. The consequences of this seemingly new approach remain to be seen.
European Foreign Affairs Review