International relations and the European Union

Abstract:

This work seeks to place the European Union in the context of international relations, both in theory and in practice.

The work is organised in four parts. Part one provides the broad framework for understanding the EU’s international relations and shows the methodology applied in subsequent chapters. Three perspectives flow through the later chapters; the EU as a sub-system of international relations, the EU and processes of international relations, and the EU as a ‘power’ in international relations.

Part two deals with the institutions and processes that surround the EU’s international relations and that give rise to the EU’s international policies. The focus is concentrated upon the ‘internal’ characteristics and policy-making processes rather than on the international aspect. Part three concentrates upon key areas of substance. It has the general aim of exploring the ways in which EU policies are pursued and have effects within the international arena.

Part four is comprised of two chapters. The first of these asks how useful is it to consider the EU as an experiment in moving the civilising process beyond the nation state - and not just within Europe - and goes on to examine how the EU should behave towards other societies, as well as what might be revealed by a moral audit of the EU. The final chapter forms the conclusion and presents the main findings of the work.

The work will interest scholars and students engaged in the fields of European Studies, International Relations and EU expansion and integration.

Christopher Hill is Sir Patrick Sheehy Professor and Director of the Centre for International Studies at the University of Cambridge. Michael Smith is Jean Monnet Professor of European Politics at Loughborough University.