The European Union as a global actor

The European Union as a global actor:

The European Union is not a state, but in some respects it ranks with the USA as a force in world affairs. When trade, global warming, human rights, local conflicts - or indeed most of the major global issues are reported - the European Union is increasingly in evidence.

This book is a systematic study of the development and contemporary operation of the EU and its external policy. The main aim of the study is to examine the extent to which the European Commission can legitimately claim to be a global actor of increasing significance. The entirety of the EU's external relations are examined looking at the nature of actors in contemporary world systems. Chapters cover the EU as an economic power and trade actor; international environmental diplomacy; development co-operation; relations with its neighbouring states; towards a common foreign and security policy, defence of the Union and finally studies questions of identity, legitimacy and eligibility.

The accessible text reveals that the EU is a multifaceted and variable actor, which cannot be fitted into any orthodox template of a nation state. This is an up-to-date analysis of the EU in global politics, filling a gap in existing literature for students and researchers in European studies, politics and international relations.