Normativní moc Evropské unie v Ázerbájdžánu

Azerbaijan presents itself as a country with an independent foreign policy, refusing European requirements for democratic reforms within the Eastern Partnership. Yet, the European Union keeps developing mutual relations, especially in the field of energy cooperation. The EU has been criticized for betraying its fundamental values of democracy and human rights, and doubts arise if the EU can represent a normative power, as described by Ian Manners in 2002. This master thesis therefore analyzes the European policy in Azerbaijan from a normative perspective. It concludes that the European Union's policy in Azerbaijan is normative and the economic cooperation is not an obstacle. Nevertheless, the impact of the European policy is hampered, making it not possible to state that EU has normative power. The main reasons are insufficient efficiency of European means and Azerbaijan's hostile approach. Still, the current situation of Azerbaijan's economic problems provides Europe with potential to increase its normative influence.