Journal of European Integration | Emotions and sanctions in EU-China and EU-North Korea policies

Tereza Novotná, an Associate Research Fellow at the EUROPEUM Institute, explores the emotional dimensions of EU foreign policy in her article for the Journal of European Integration. The analysis examines how emotional factors shape political decisions and responses regarding EU human rights sanctions against China and North Korea, highlighting differing outcomes in these cases and suggesting that incorporating emotional awareness could enhance policy effectiveness.

The trajectory of EU-China relations shows an interplay between emotions and (EU) foreign policy, where policy decisions are intricately tied to emotional responses, thereby highlighting a complex emotion-policy nexus. Beginning with optimism about enhanced trade cooperation, shifting through responses to human rights norm violations and culminating in emotionally charged tit-for-tat sanctions and countersanctions significantly impacted policy outcomes.

You can read the entire article here.

Tereza Novotná
Senior Associate Research Fellow

Expertise: EU foreign policy, North and South Korea and NE Asia; European External Action Service, EU Delegations; transatlantic relations and trade; EU enlargement and EU institutions; Germany (foreign and domestic politics, particularly in the Eastern parts of Germany).