CEU Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2017
| Author | Beck, Ann-Kathrin |
|---|---|
| Title | Analyzing Non-State Stakeholder Involvement in the Negotiation Process of the Vietnam Voluntary Partnership Agreement under the EU FLEGT Action Plan |
| Summary | This thesis analyzes the role non-state stakeholders, namely private and civil society actors, played in the negotiation process of the Voluntary Partnership Agreement with Vietnam under the EU Forest Law Enforcement, Governance, and Trade Action Plan. Employing the Policy Arrangement Approach by Arts et al. (2006) actors and their coalitions, resources, rules of the game, and discourses were examined. The role of non-state actors was assessed using an adapted ladder of participation based on Arnstein (1969). The negotiation process between Vietnam and the EU that carried on from 2010 to 2017 was split up in three distinct phases which constitutes for a qualitative study with a within-case comparison. It was found that the amount of actors and their coalitions as well as the resources they have, increased over time. Particularly important are the creation of the Network of Vietnam Non-Governmental Organizations on the Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade Action Plan and the support of external actors. However, the Vietnamese government retained most of the power over the negotiations and therefore only small changes in the rules of the game and discourses occurred. Non-state stakeholders were not allowed to play a great role in the negotiation process. Sometimes they acted as consultants, but most often they were only informed about the proceedings. This illustrates the contrast between EU requirements for multi-stakeholder involvement and current practices in Vietnam. However, non-state actors became more knowledgeable and outspoken throughout the negotiation process which can have a positive impact on their future involvement in policy-making. As a previously unstudied case, this work also provides Vietnam as an example for future Voluntary Partnership Agreements with other South East Asian countries, closing a gap in the research. |
| Supervisor | Puetter, Uwe; Kissack, Robert |
| Department | School of Public Policy MA |
| Full text | https://www.etd.ceu.edu/2017/beck_ann-kathrin.pdf |
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