EU – a global actor?

Lecture 2

Elof Nellemann Nielsen

European studies
Autumn 2007
EU – a global actor?
Lecture 2 – Hix Hill and Smith
Two main features towards the global stage:

Economic

Foreign and Security policies.

Two main theoretical frameworks:

Realism

Liberalism
EU – a global actor?
Lecture 2
Realpolitik
 EU – a global actor?
Lecture 2

Realism:
The realist approach sees IR as a constant
struggle for power and domination between
states.

States are unitary actors with security concerns.

The balance of power between states who act

rationally. States wants to maintain their
sovereignty: To survive.

Realist assert the primacy of politics over economics.

EU – a global actor?
Lecture 2

Liberalism:
Driven by global economic interdependence and
therefore adequate (and to convenient?) to
explain European integration.

States are not unitary actors (All sorts of interest

groups within the state).

Economic interest priorities over national sovereignty

Supranational institutions.
EU – a global actor?
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Liberals assert the primacy of economics and societal

economic interest over politics. The economic
benefits and welfare of the EU comes because
states within the union pool their sovereignty.

In the liberal perspective the different economic

interest, non-state economic actors, and the
different social actors with individual agendas
within the state challenge the stability of the very
same state.
EU – a global actor?
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Social actors with individual agendas
Cultural-Religious
EU – a global actor?
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Social actors with individual agendas
Media
EU – a global actor?
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Social actors with individual agendas
Business-Economics-consumers
EU – a global actor?
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Attempts to act unanimously:

To preserve and defend the SEM the EU set up a
common external policies based on different
features:

Common rules of goods imported to any EU-member

EU makes agreements with other actors on the global

stage on behalf of all member states

EU (tries) to act united towards aid and developing

policies in the third world.
 EU – a global actor?
Lecture 2

Common Commercial Policy

The essence of CCP is liberal – or at least it should be.
In practice CCP obtain a good deal of protectionism.
Sarkozy, the reform-treaty and competition law.
 EU – a global actor?
Lecture 2
Previously, the objectives of the Reform Treaty included the EU's
commitment to an "internal market where competition is free and
undistorted." The Reform Treaty will continue to have the EU's
obligation to an "internal market" included in the objectives.
However reference to competition being "free and undistorted" will
be transferred to a protocol.

France as the ‘mother’ of protectionism.

Realistic approach.
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The Commissions has the legislative initiative in the
making of Common Commercial Policy rules.

The liberal approach.

In fact, the role of the EU as an actor is inconsistent

and often more than one theories is needed to
analyses its policies.
 EU – a global actor?
Lecture 2

Common Foreign and Security

Policy.

WEU 1948 (inc. UK)

EDC 1952
Hague 1969 (EPC)
SEA
Maastricht 1992
 EU – a global actor?
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EU’s CFSP - Maastricht:

Common Values
Security of the Union
International security – UN Charter Helisinki and Paris
International cooperation
Consolidate democracy

CFSP based on two instruments:

Common positions (Iraq)
Joint actions (DRC – Balkan)
EU – a global actor?
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Amsterdam Treaty:
The European Council should present common
strategies within CFSP.
All CFSP decisions are taken unanimity.
New post:
High Representative for CFSP
EU – a global actor?
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EU as ‘Panacea’ - magic cure – a cross between
Father Chrismas and the Seventh Cavalry.
The failure of the Union in the Balkan wars.

EU does not have the strength, the will, the

resources, the legitimacy or the Institutions to be
cavalries and Santa.
EU – a global actor?
Lecture 2

Why can’t the EU be cavalries and Santa?

The Realist Approach:

National concerns about sovereignty in the field of
Security and defence are much more significant
than in the field of economics or environment.

Liberal approach:
States are willing to give up authority to
supranational when they can see economic
reasons and benefits. Security interests derives
from economic matters.
EU – a global actor?
Lecture 2
Liberalism:
EU has come far in the economic sphere.

Realism:
EU has failed with its CFSP in relations to the break-
up of Yugoslavia and Iraq.

Strongly recommended:
http://europa.eu.int/scadplus/
 (Neo-)Realism Pluralism (/liberalism)

Representatives James N. Waltz James Rosenau

Unit of analysis States Stats and non-state actors (transnational companies, ministries, regimes), groups of decision-
makers

View of actor(s) State is unitary actor, stable preferences State disaggregated, dynamic preferences

Dynamic behind behaviour State is rational actor seeking to max. national interest, balance of Patterns of dominance within and among societies, new dynamics such as regional
power orientation, territorial integrity, geopolitical integration
stability

Issues National security, threats Welfare, environment, security

Orientation Zero-sum games Positive-sum games

Pessimistic about progress, “better safe than sorry”, advantage of Progressive, belief in possibility of creating regional and global security communities, trade
hegemonic stability (US dominance) is a welfare-generator

What is the EU? What EU? Sum of MS security preferences determine EU position EU is an actor in own right; economic interests significant for EU global positioning
at best

Explanation of E integration Anomaly Explicable

EU global actor strength? Weak (no military, not a state) Strong capabilities in certain areas
 EU as a ’global actor’ in its own right
(statehood)

OR

EU as an institution in a transnational
security community exercising influence
via MS foreign policies (governance)

Is EU a ’civil power’ or a ’superpower in

the making’?
See table 2.2. p. 34 in Hill &Smith