Security as a Pillar of the European Union’s Cooperation for Development in Central America

Caldentey del Pozo, Pedro and Casas-Grangea, Angel M. (2015) Security as a Pillar of the European Union’s Cooperation for Development in Central America. [Conference Proceedings] (Submitted)

PDF - Submitted Version Download (347Kb)

Abstract

The peace-security-development nexus is present in development cooperation policies. The concept of security has changed since 9/11, consequently influencing the strategies proposed by development cooperation’s major aid donors. To study the relationship between development cooperation and security, José Antonio Sanahuja recently proposed an analytical framework for the securitization of aid, which is based on the Copenhagen School’s concept of securitization. This author argues that cooperation for development policies have shifted depending on the need to support strategies to combat terrorism. This is affecting the strategies and priorities of these policies, mainly, to struggle against poverty, and to defend the democratic component. In the Central American case, security is a priority in the European Union’s new Regional Strategy Paper for 2014-2020. In this work, we will analyze and reflect on the EU’s role in development cooperation in Central America’s security strategy. We intend to demonstrate that indeed it is not a case of securitization of aid. Despite the EU’s recent focus on security in its Central American development cooperation, it does not respond to the elements presented by Sanahuja.

Actions (login required)