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Normative Power Approach to European Union External Action

Manners, Ian LU orcid (2021) p.61-76
Abstract
The field of studying EU external relations/actions has embraced and endorsed mainstream International Relations and European Integration theoretical orthodoxy over the past three decades. This ideological orthodoxy is proving catastrophic as the accumulation of economic, social, environmental, conflictual, and political crises are increasingly demonstrating. As Joseph Stiglitz succinctly puts it, ‘neoliberalism will literally bring an end to our civilization’ as the ecological and climate catastrophe accelerates through the 21st century. In contrast, the Normative Power Approach (NPA) to the EU sets out a radically different means of studying and changing planetary politics. The NPA uses normative theory, theories of explanation and... (More)
The field of studying EU external relations/actions has embraced and endorsed mainstream International Relations and European Integration theoretical orthodoxy over the past three decades. This ideological orthodoxy is proving catastrophic as the accumulation of economic, social, environmental, conflictual, and political crises are increasingly demonstrating. As Joseph Stiglitz succinctly puts it, ‘neoliberalism will literally bring an end to our civilization’ as the ecological and climate catastrophe accelerates through the 21st century. In contrast, the Normative Power Approach (NPA) to the EU sets out a radically different means of studying and changing planetary politics. The NPA uses normative theory, theories of explanation and understanding, and practical theories, all at the same time. First, the NPA brings normative theory to the field through the critical social theory of agonistic cosmopolitics that challenges the ideological common sense of existing notions of power, the EU, and international affairs. Second, the NPA advocates critical thinking of explanatory concepts and theories of understanding through the idea of European communion. Third, the NPA sets out empirical-practical innovations in EU external actions that have grown from normative political theory since the end of the Cold War. In conclusion, the chapter clarifies how the NPA’s radical re-envisioning of the field of EU external actions provides a theoretical innovation that has not only shaped EU studies, but has a wider spread impact on the study of foreign policy and international relations beyond Europe. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
organization
publishing date
type
Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Normative Power, Normative Power Approach, Holistic, European Union, European Integration, External Action, foreign policy
host publication
The External Action of the European Union : Concepts, Approaches, Theories - Concepts, Approaches, Theories
editor
Gstöhl, Sieglinde and Schunz, Simon
pages
16 pages
publisher
Palgrave Macmillan
ISBN
9781352012125
9781352012187
9781352012132
project
Arrival of Normative Power in Planetary Politics
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
ff2f7070-e7aa-42e1-b1a7-93742adedb7f
date added to LUP
2021-02-16 12:29:30
date last changed
2024-02-02 10:21:07
@inbook{ff2f7070-e7aa-42e1-b1a7-93742adedb7f,
  abstract     = {{The field of studying EU external relations/actions has embraced and endorsed mainstream International Relations and European Integration theoretical orthodoxy over the past three decades. This ideological orthodoxy is proving catastrophic as the accumulation of economic, social, environmental, conflictual, and political crises are increasingly demonstrating. As Joseph Stiglitz succinctly puts it, ‘neoliberalism will literally bring an end to our civilization’ as the ecological and climate catastrophe accelerates through the 21st century. In contrast, the Normative Power Approach (NPA) to the EU sets out a radically different means of studying and changing planetary politics. The NPA uses normative theory, theories of explanation and understanding, and practical theories, all at the same time. First, the NPA brings normative theory to the field through the critical social theory of agonistic cosmopolitics that challenges the ideological common sense of existing notions of power, the EU, and international affairs. Second, the NPA advocates critical thinking of explanatory concepts and theories of understanding through the idea of European communion. Third, the NPA sets out empirical-practical innovations in EU external actions that have grown from normative political theory since the end of the Cold War. In conclusion, the chapter clarifies how the NPA’s radical re-envisioning of the field of EU external actions provides a theoretical innovation that has not only shaped EU studies, but has a wider spread impact on the study of foreign policy and international relations beyond Europe.}},
  author       = {{Manners, Ian}},
  booktitle    = {{The External Action of the European Union : Concepts, Approaches, Theories}},
  editor       = {{Gstöhl, Sieglinde and Schunz, Simon}},
  isbn         = {{9781352012125}},
  keywords     = {{Normative Power; Normative Power Approach; Holistic; European Union; European Integration; External Action; foreign policy}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{03}},
  pages        = {{61--76}},
  publisher    = {{Palgrave Macmillan}},
  title        = {{Normative Power Approach to European Union External Action}},
  year         = {{2021}},
}