Profiling Normative Foreign Policy: The European Union and its Global Partners
Profiling Normative Foreign Policy: The European Union and its Global Partners

Author(s): Natalie Tocci
Subject(s): International Law, International relations/trade, Politics and law, EU-Accession / EU-DEvelopment
Published by: CEPS Centre for European Policy Studies
Keywords: Normative foreign policy; European Union; Global partners; Internationl actor;
Summary/Abstract: This chapter is the first in a series intended to explore fundamental aspects of foreign policy at the global level, against the backdrop of a proliferation of global actors in the 21st century, following half a century with only one undisputed global hegemon: the US. The European Union is itself a new or emerging foreign policy actor, driven by self-declared normative principles. But Russia, China and India are also increasingly assertive actors on the global stageand similarly claim to be driven by a normative agenda. The question is how will these various global actors define their foreign policy priorities, and how they will interact, especially if their ideas of normative behaviour differ? This introductory chapter sets out a conceptual framework for exploring these issues and defines ‘normative’ as being strongly based on international law and institutions, and thusthe most ‘universalisable’ basis upon which to assess foreign policy.

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