Normative dynamics and strategic interests in the EU’s external identity

Article abstract:

Focus on the ideational dimensions of the EU's international presence has unduly diverted attention away from the persistence of power politics instrumentalism. Despite general recognition that these elements co-exist, analysis of EU external policies can benefit from a more precise exploration of how strategic calculation invests a broadly normative agenda with notable characteristics. The article demonstrates this in relation to the promotion of human rights. This sheds light on the way in which security concerns and normative values inform each other, and cautions against neglect of the strategic specificities to identity-representation dynamics.