European Foreign Policy in an Evolving International System - The Road Towards Convergence

European Foreign Policy in an Evolving International System contributes to the understanding of recent developments in European foreign policy and offers an assessment of the role of the European Union as a global actor in the post-Cold War era. The volume provides the reader with a comprehensive and topical array of case studies on European Union foreign policy. The contributions, written by experts in the area, analyse the level of policy convergence achieved by EU member states in crucial areas and regions of the world. The book is organised in four sections: (1) The EU in the International System; (2) The EU and the Great Powers; (3) The EU and the Management of Conflicts in the Near Abroad; (4) The EU's Regional Policies. This is essential reading for scholars and students of European Union studies and, more generally, of International Relations. It also offers a readable and practical policy update to practitioners and the interested reader.

Introduction; C.Musu & N.Casarini PART 1: THE EU IN THE INTERNATIONAL SYSTEM "European" Foreign Policy: A Realistic Aspiration, or an Unattainable Goal?; W.Wallace Europe's Grand Strategy: The Search for a Post-modern Realism; P.Vennesson EU Coordination in International Organisations; P.Luif & M.Radeva PART 2: THE EU AND THE GREAT POWERS European Positions and American Response: ESDP-NATO Compatibility; B.Giegerich Engaging China - Uniting Europe?; M-B.Stumbaum EU Relations with Russia: Partnership or Asymmetric Interdependency?; J.Hughes PART 3: THE EU AND THE MANAGEMENT OF CONFLICTS European Union Foreign Policy Towards the Balkans; E.Gross The EU and the Arab-Israeli Peace Process; C.Musu Congruence without Strategy: Explaining EU Policies towards the Cyprus Conflict; N.Tocci The EU and the Western Sahara Conflict: Managing the Colonial Heritage; J.Vaquer I Fanes PART IV: THE EU'S REGIONAL POLICIES "Conditionality-lite": The European Neighbourhood Policy and the EU's Eastern Neighbours; G.Sasse The EU and the Baltic Sea Area; N.Catellani The EU and Euro-Mediterranean Security: A New Departure?; S.Biscop The Making of the EU's Strategy towards Asia; N.Casarini Conclusion; S.Economides