Towards an EU human rights strategy for a post-Western world
Have global changes undermined the pull of Europe’s values?
Experts & Staff
Anthony Dworkin
Senior Policy Fellow
Areas of expertise
Human rights; democracy; justice; North Africa (especially Egypt and Tunisia); war crimes; drones and counterterrorism; US foreign policy
Languages
English, conversational French
Biography
Anthony Dworkin is senior policy fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations. He leads the organisation’s work in the areas of human rights, democracy, and justice.
Among other subjects, Dworkin has conducted research and written on European and US frameworks for counterterrorism, the European Union’s human rights strategy, and the pursuit of justice in the international response to mass atrocities. Since 2011, he has also followed political developments in North Africa after the Arab uprisings, with a particular focus on Egypt and Tunisia. Before joining ECFR in 2008, Dworkin was executive director of the Crimes of War Project, an NGO that worked to raise public and media awareness of the laws governing armed conflict. He co-edited the book Crimes of War: What the Public Should Know (2nd ed., 2007) and wrote extensively for the project’s website about war crimes and contemporary conflict, in addition to conducting training sessions on the laws of war and international justice in several countries.
Dworkin has written and spoken widely on questions related to human rights, democracy, and justice. He is a contributing editor for the British magazine Prospect and has written for several other publications, including the Financial Times, The Guardian, the International Herald Tribune, the Washington Post, El País, the New Statesman, the Times Literary Supplement, Foreign Policy, and World Politics Review. He has been a member of the Terrorism/Counterterrorism Advisory Committee and the London Advocacy Advisory Committee of Human Rights Watch. Dworkin has also worked as a producer and reporter for BBC Current Affairs.
Egypt’s hybrid revolution: A bolder EU approach
How Europe can help Egypt’s move towards democracy
Bin Laden’s Death – The End of the Global War on Terror?
The killing of Osama bin Laden will have a significant impact on both al-Qaeda and the fight against Islamic terrorism by the US and its allies. President Obama now has the task – and the opportunity – to rethink how the US is conducting that fight.
Scoring Europe’s Southern neighbourhood
European countries are playing a central role in the Libyan intervention, and the EU is looking to help the transitions in Tunisia and Egypt. But before Mohammed Bouazizi set himself on fire, setting off the sequence of protests, how well did Europe perform when dealing with its southern neighbourhood last year?
After the revolution: Europe and the transition in Tunisia
Tunisians need European help to turn their revolution into a democracy
Don’t abandon Tunisia
Tunisia's democrats have made an amazing start, after launching the wave of popular uprisings that are continuing to rock the Arab world. But they worry that the world will forget them as they embark upon the massive project of rebuilding a new Tunisia
Europe must stand behind Egypt’s democrats
Europe went through its own year of democratic revolutions in 1989, yet its reaction to events in north Africa has lacked passion and purpose. European leaders meeting for a summit in Brussels must seize the opportunity to commit themselves to a strategy that puts them firmly on the side of democracy in the Middle East
Drone Attacks: Why New Wars Need New Rules
Obama’s increased use of drone attacks has left many people on both sides of the Atlantic unsure how to react. A new approach, based on human rights principles, is needed to assess their permissibility
The International Criminal Court: A Time for Consolidation
Eight years ago countries across the world backed the launching of a permanent International Criminal Court to bring those who commit mass atrocities to justice. The ICC is up for review, starting on 1 June in Uganda. The biggest question on the table is: should the ICC have jurisdiction over the crime of aggression?
EE UU-UE: m?s all? de la ?guerra contra el terrorismo?
La desuni?n transatl?ntica en materia antiterrorista ha causado problemas legales y ha impedido emitir un mensaje que redujera el atractivo de Al Qaeda
Publications
The Maghreb maze: Harmonising divergent European policies in North Africa
The Maghreb policies of the four most influential EU member states are diverging – but this fragmentation hinders the EU’s long-term interests in the region
Multilateral development in flux: Strengthening European cooperation with the global south
European countries are rethinking their policies on multilateral development. In the face of intersecting crises, they should embrace a new, far-sighted vision for development cooperation
We’ll always have Paris: How to adapt multilateral climate cooperation to new realities
Geopolitical tensions are hindering progress in multilateral climate cooperation. The EU should continue to supplement negotiations under the UN climate convention with smaller initiatives that bring together like-minded, ambitious partners
Clear and president danger: Democracy and the constitution in Tunisia
Tunisia’s new constitution would create an unaccountable presidency. European policymakers should state that it is not genuinely democratic, while continuing to support the country economically
North African standoff: How the Western Sahara conflict is fuelling new tensions between Morocco and Algeria
Europeans should pay closer attention to rising tensions between Morocco and Algeria. A more balanced European approach to both countries could help stave off instability in north-west Africa and the Mediterranean
Health of nations: How Europe can fight future pandemics
The EU should promote a new global compact on health, matching countries’ commitment to surveillance and reporting of pathogens with support for stronger healthcare systems and greater equity in the allocation of countermeasures
Built to order: How Europe can rebuild multilateralism after covid-19
The covid-19 pandemic has brought forward a new agenda for multilateralism, focused on areas including global health, economic recovery, climate, technology, and trade
Promoting European strategic sovereignty in the southern neighbourhood
To achieve greater sovereignty, Europe needs to push back against rival powers, build leverage in armed conflicts, and be more effective in supporting reform
A new transatlantic bargain: An action plan for transformation, not restoration
The Trump years galvanised Europeans’ efforts to strengthen their own sovereignty; they now need to agree concrete offers they can make to the new administration
A return to Africa: Why North African states are looking south
North African countries, each for their own reasons, are increasingly turning their attention towards sub-Saharan Africa
Articles
Why Europeans should support the International Criminal Court over the Gaza war
The International Criminal Court is likely to approve arrest warrants for leaders of both Hamas and Israel. European countries should ensure they do not undermine the process and explore ways it could help promote an end to the conflict
Aid with reform: How the EU-Egypt deal can succeed
The EU should release funding to Cairo only if it undertakes following meaningful economic reforms
Court order: Why Europeans should support the ICJ’s decision on South Africa’s genocide case against Israel
Despite their disagreements over the case, it is crucial that European countries support the implementation of the ICJ’s provisional measures
Israel, Hamas, and the laws of war
European leaders agree that Israel has the right to defend itself as long as it complies with international law. It is time that they recognise the limits those laws set
Shapes of Multilateralisms Collection
This collection of nine insightful essays illuminates the strategies employed to advance European interests and values within this evolving global polity of overlapping cooperative frameworks
Multilateral health: Developing a habit of pandemic preparedness
A lack of coordination among the world’s states hindered the global response to covid-19. The same problem is now disrupting international efforts to put in place a more effective system to prepare for future pandemics
Saied’s crackdown: How the EU can stand up for human rights in Tunisia
The EU has invested heavily in Tunisia’s transition to democracy since 2011. Now it must stand up for the rule of law and for the rights of those under threat
Aggression on trial: The tricky path towards prosecuting Russian war leaders
A UN-backed court could reinforce condemnation of Russia’s aggressive war and reduce Putin’s legitimacy on the international stage. But its establishment and success will depend on the commitment it receives
Laws against slaughter: The crimes that shape Russia’s war on Ukraine
Widespread violations of international humanitarian law appear to be part of the Russian way of war. The international response to such crimes could have severe geopolitical consequences for Russia
The battle for Tunisia’s democracy
Tunisia’s president seems unwilling to compromise with his political opponents. But the EU can help set limits on his behaviour through a combination of financial assistance and public statements
Specials
European Sovereignty Index
The EU can overcome the new challenges it faces and can shape the global order. To achieve this, Europeans will need to improve their joint capacity to act
Mapping European leverage in the MENA region
Turmoil in the Middle East and north Africa directly affects Europeans. Yet their influence in the region has never been weaker. This project maps Europe’s role across the Middle East and north Africa, making the case that Europeans can do more to leverage their influence in pursuit of core interests
Podcasts
The role of international law and justice in a fragmented world
Mark Leonard welcomes Anthony Dworkin to discuss the role of international law and justice in an increasingly fragmented world
Health of Nations: How Europe can fight future pandemics
This week, ECFR senior policy fellow, Susi Dennison, takes over the podcast to talk about international cooperation on global health
The election of President Ebrahim Raisi and the future of Iran
Does the election of Raisi represent a significant change of direction following the term of President Rouhani?
What future for the transatlantic alliance?
How well does the transatlantic alliance still fit with the way that Europe and the United States now see their goals in foreign policy?
Multilateralism after covid-19
How can Europe adapt its strategies for multilateralism in this competitive world and what would they look like?
The geopolitics of a covid-19 vaccine
How do we go forward with the global distribution of covid-19 vaccines and what kind of geopolitical implications do surround this endeavour?
Europe’s role in global health & how to build European health sovereignty
“If it’s about Europe´s role in global health, a big part of it is Europe's health sovereignty which we want to make one of the…
An energizing side-effect? How covid-19 could revive multilateralism
Recently, we have seen funding cuts to the WHO in the middle of the coronavirus crisis and national governments closing borders instead of calling for…
App-solutely necessary? Technology as a way out of the coronavirus crisis
Word on the street seems to suggest that technology will be the way out of the coronavirus crisis and the lockdowns in many European countries. This…
The Berlin Libya Conference: a moment to shine for European foreign policy?
Anthony Dworkin stands in for our usual host, Mark Leonard, to de-brief the Berlin Conference on Libya. Together with the ECFR’s experts Asli Aydıntaşbaş, Tarek…
Events
29 Nov
Multilateral development cooperation in a competitive world
Please register for our online discussion on “Multilateral development cooperation in a competitive world” on Wednesday 29th November at 14.00-15.00 CET. European countries are rethinking their…
31 Oct
A new climate for peace? How Europe can reconcile energy and climate security
Cinzia Bianco, Mats Engström and Anthony Dworkin were in conversation with Susi Dennison to hear how Europe can best meet its energy security interests all the while preserving its credibility as a climate superpower
19 May
After the pandemic: Health security and multilateralism at work
The covid-19 pandemic has created a new sense of urgency behind the need for multilateral action
In the media
[It is crucial that] European officials do nothing to undermine or condemn the actions of the ICC, suggesting that democratic countries should be above the law
Anthony Dworkin on the request of ICC prosecutor Karim Khan to issue an arrest warrant for both Israel and Hamas leaders
The growing importance of Egypt does signify a return of Egypt’s key role in Europe’s regional vision and engagement
Anthony Dworkin on Israel’s role in Gaza-related negotiations
Doing these reforms in a meaningful way would require the Egyptian government to make a big change in the economic policies it has followed so far
Anthony Dworkin on the European Union’s recent aid package to Egypt
The human rights situation in Egypt remains problematic and worrying
Anthony Dworkin on the EU agreement with Egypt
Anthony Dworkin comments on the European Union and its new deal with Egypt