Between Principles and Pragmatism: The Role of the Netherlands at the 1986-1989 Vienna Follow-up Meeting of the Conference on Security and Cooperation Europe (CSCE)

Abstract

The aim of this thesis is to investigate what the role of the Netherlands was at the 1986-1989 Vienna follow-up meeting of the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe (CSCE). It attempts to do so by combining empirical historic source analysis with a conceptual approach that uses elements from classic and liberal intergovernmentalism. In doing so, this thesis will uncover the dynamics of West-West (EC-12 and NATO) cooperation and the Western struggle for internal cohesion. This thesis argues that despite their strong, principled defence of human rights, the primary goal of the Netherlands was to promote West-West cooperation and cohesion. By focusing on the Dutch proposal for a mechanism that aimed to improve implementation of human dimension provisions of the CSCE, this thesis demonstrates how Netherlands balanced principles and pragmatism, with the latter proving to be the most important. The Dutch continuously pushed the boundaries of their influence by exploring their margins for manoeuvre within the Western bloc and within the CSCE. They attempted reconcile the different Western views, while at the same time directly appealing to East European countries and Neutral and Non-Aligned countries for support for Dutch ideas. The limit was reached when Dutch manoeuvring started to seriously threaten West-West cooperation instead of facilitating it. Accordingly, the Dutch let go of their firm grip on the Western human dimension proposal and reached a compromise with their Western allies.