The Europeanisation of national foreign policy. Dutch, Danish and Irish foreign policy in the European Union

Book abstract:

Have Maastricht and the establishment of the Common Foreign and Security Policy constrained or empowered Danish, Dutch and Irish foreign policy? The formation of the European Union's foreign policy has evolved to the point at which for some Member States it has become a foreign policy objective in its own right and prompts a reappraisal of national interests in a new European context.

The author explores these issues by establishing a baseline to consider the relationship of European foreign and security policy with national foreign policies. National foreign policies in relation to the Middle East, South Africa and the early stages of the Balkans conflict and the relationship between these foreign policies and the development of European foreign and security policy are then examined. Were they participants in the formation of the EU's Foreign and Security policy or merely endorsers of the policy formulated by the major players in the European Union? Chapter eleven 'The Practitioners' Assessment' considers the analysis of foreign policy experts and practitioners from these three states and their assessment of the capacity of the EU's Foreign and Security Policy and the role of minor states therein.

The volume will be of interest to students and scholars of comparative foreign policy, of European integration, EU foreign policy and international relations

Ben Tonra is with the Dublin European Institute at University College in Dublin and has published widely on Irish Foreign Policy issues and the foreign policies of EU Member States.