EU Global Strategy in a changing world: Brussels’ approach to the emerging powers

ABSTRACT

The world is entering a period of power transition, at the outcome of which some new form of global order (or disorder) is likely to emerge. Critical to this process is the interaction between the established powers, the USA and the European Union (EU), and the emerging powers, particularly China, Brazil, India and Russia. Many analysts have classified the EU as a declining power, a perception that has been enhanced with the triple crises of sovereignty that have rocked the Union since the mid-2000s (money, borders and defence). In this context, the publication of the EU Global Strategy was an opportunity for the EU to state clearly the nature of its ongoing and future relations with the rest of the world. This article argues that, in reality, Europe as a bloc (as opposed to its member states severally) has very limited purchase with the other major powers, and an ambivalent or ill-defined grasp of how to engage with them. They, for their part, have difficulty in knowing how to understand the EU as an actor and prefer to deal bilaterally with its key member states.

KEYWORDS:

• European Union
• EU Global Strategy
• emerging powers
• China
• BRICs

Acknowledgements

This paper builds on some parts of a previously published chapter, Jolyon Howorth, ‘Sustained Collective Action or Beggar My Neighbour? Europe, America and the Emerging Powers’, in Riccardo Alcaro, John Peterson and Ettore Greco (eds) The West and the Global Power Shift (London: Palgrave Macmillan, 2016).

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.

Notes on contributor

Jolyon Howorth has been a Visiting Professor of Political Science and International Affairs at Yale University since 2002. He is also Jean Monnet Professor ad personam and Emeritus Professor of European Studies at the University of Bath, UK. His recent books include Security and Defence Policy in the European Union (Basingstoke: Palgrave, 2007; 2nd edition: 2014); Defending Europe: the EU, NATO and the Quest for European Autonomy, (Basingstoke: Palgrave, 2003) (with John Keeler, eds) and European Integration and Defence: The Ultimate Challenge? (Paris: EU-ISS, 2000).

Notes

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