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The Second Relationship - the shadows of the US and past in EU-Canada relations

Rothzén, Maria LU (2009) STVM01 20091
Department of Political Science
Abstract
The focus of this thesis is the EU-Canada relationship and the perplexing notion that despite common fundamental values and interests in foreign affairs as well as enduring historical ties, cooperation between these like-minded actors is not as developed as would be expected. Using the method of process-tracing, the objective is to clarify what could be the reasons behind this condition. No single theory or model can on its own adequately explain this question and I will thus put forward my argumentation in two complementary perspectives or ‘cuts’. Each of these cuts bears reference to different theoretical rationales, i.e. various aspects of power relations and the concept of path-dependency.
I will argue that only in unison do the two... (More)
The focus of this thesis is the EU-Canada relationship and the perplexing notion that despite common fundamental values and interests in foreign affairs as well as enduring historical ties, cooperation between these like-minded actors is not as developed as would be expected. Using the method of process-tracing, the objective is to clarify what could be the reasons behind this condition. No single theory or model can on its own adequately explain this question and I will thus put forward my argumentation in two complementary perspectives or ‘cuts’. Each of these cuts bears reference to different theoretical rationales, i.e. various aspects of power relations and the concept of path-dependency.
I will argue that only in unison do the two cuts give a comprehensive understanding of EU-Canada relations. In particular the imperative of the US, the fundamental asymmetry in economic relations between Canada and Europe, and past experiences will prove consequential for the prospects of evolving bilateral EU-Canada relations, demonstrating that the EU-Canada relationship is stipulated by the shadows of the US and past. (Less)
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author
Rothzén, Maria LU
supervisor
organization
course
STVM01 20091
year
type
H1 - Master's Degree (One Year)
subject
keywords
past experiences, EU-Canada relationship, US as a superpower, path-dependency, asymmetrical relations
language
English
additional info
I would like to thank my interviewees at the Council’s Secretariat in Brussels and the Commission delegation in Ottawa for helpful and discerning information, Commission official Alexis Loeber for his instructive e-mail reply and desk officer Lennart Killander-Larsson at the Swedish Department for Foreign Affairs for useful contacts and advices.
id
1361709
date added to LUP
2009-04-17 09:05:17
date last changed
2009-04-21 09:45:14
@misc{1361709,
  abstract     = {{The focus of this thesis is the EU-Canada relationship and the perplexing notion that despite common fundamental values and interests in foreign affairs as well as enduring historical ties, cooperation between these like-minded actors is not as developed as would be expected. Using the method of process-tracing, the objective is to clarify what could be the reasons behind this condition. No single theory or model can on its own adequately explain this question and I will thus put forward my argumentation in two complementary perspectives or ‘cuts’. Each of these cuts bears reference to different theoretical rationales, i.e. various aspects of power relations and the concept of path-dependency.
I will argue that only in unison do the two cuts give a comprehensive understanding of EU-Canada relations. In particular the imperative of the US, the fundamental asymmetry in economic relations between Canada and Europe, and past experiences will prove consequential for the prospects of evolving bilateral EU-Canada relations, demonstrating that the EU-Canada relationship is stipulated by the shadows of the US and past.}},
  author       = {{Rothzén, Maria}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{The Second Relationship - the shadows of the US and past in EU-Canada relations}},
  year         = {{2009}},
}