Cooperating With the Poster Child of Everything You Stand Against: Exploring the Contradictions in Dutch Foreign Trade Policy: A Case Study of Dutch-Saudi Relations
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2024-07-12
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nl
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This thesis explores the paradoxical deepening of political and economic relations between the Netherlands and Saudi Arabia, despite the Dutch state's acknowledgment and condemnation of Saudi human rights violations. Utilizing structural realism and neoliberal institutionalism as theoretical frameworks, the thesis aims to fill a gap in contemporary understanding of Dutch interactions with states characterized by complex normative and geopolitical dynamics. Through a qualitative document analysis with elements of process tracing, the findings reveal that structural realism provides a more robust explanation, highlighting that Dutch-Saudi cooperation is primarily driven by pragmatic considerations of economic resilience and security, rather than normative alignment. Neoliberal institutionalism offers some insights into mutual economic benefits, but fails to account for the dominant security-driven motivations. The thesis also exposes a broader issue concerning the value of human rights within Western states, suggesting these principles are often used selectively when geopolitically convenient, thus challenging the authenticity of their commitment. By critically analyzing Dutch foreign policy through these theoretical lenses, this research contributes to the academic discourse on Western-Middle Eastern relations and the intricate balance between national interests, international obligations, and ethical considerations in contemporary foreign policy.
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Faculteit der Managementwetenschappen