I ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTION: WHAT EXPLAINS THE DECISION OF THE EU TO OBSERVE OR NOT OBSERVE ELECTIONS AROUND THE WORLD? I PROPOSE THAT, BEYOND SIMPLY PROMOTING DEMOCRACY, ELECTION OBSERVATION IS A FOREIGN POLICY TOOL THAT THE EU CAN USE TO FURTHER ITS LARGER INTERESTS. MORE SPECIFICALLY, I CONTRAST THREE DIFFERENT OBJECTIVES OF THE EU'S INTERNATIONAL ELECTION MONITORING POLICY: INTERNATIONAL ROLE, INTERNAL FUNCTIONAL INTEGRATION, AND INTERNATIONAL ALTRUISM. WITH A COMBINATION OF QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE METHODS OF ANALYSIS, I PRESENT ORIGINAL EVIDENCE IN SUPPORT OF MY ARGUMENT: I FIND THAT THE EU IS IN FACT MORE LIKELY TO USE ITS ELECTION OBSERVATION MISSIONS AS A MEDIUM TO IMPROVE ITS STRATEGIC STANDING ON THE INTERNATIONAL STAGE.
