title: The EU’s Identity. Using Sanctions to Construct the International ‘Self’
abstract: On March 17, 2014, the European Union (EU) imposed its first sanctions against Russia. The sanctions were the Union’s reaction to the culmination of tensions between Ukraine and Russia, which resulted in the violation of Ukraine’s sovereignty and the annexation of Crimea. The already strained relationship between EU and Russia was aggravated by the Russian continuation of destabilization manoeuvres in Ukraine. This in turn lead to intensified EU sanctions against Russia.
  Sanctions are not only 