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A Genuine Green Giant? The European Union's role as a leader in international climate politics

Kilian, Bertil LU (2009) STVM17 20091
Department of Political Science
Abstract
This thesis examines the notion of the European Union (EU) being a leader in international climate change (CC) politics. It aims at finding out whether the Union is indeed a leader in the area and how this leader role is constructed. As a leader is only a leader when it is perceived as such, the study takes into account a distinct role-theoretical approach that analyzes the self-image of the EU and perceptions of non-EU actors on the EU’s leadership. Interviews and qualitative data of CC negotiators and diplomats both from the EU and third states serve as the main empirical material for this endeavour. While the EU is seen by both the EU and non-EU outsiders as a leader on CC that is pursuing a ‘soft’ leadership strategy – a distinctive... (More)
This thesis examines the notion of the European Union (EU) being a leader in international climate change (CC) politics. It aims at finding out whether the Union is indeed a leader in the area and how this leader role is constructed. As a leader is only a leader when it is perceived as such, the study takes into account a distinct role-theoretical approach that analyzes the self-image of the EU and perceptions of non-EU actors on the EU’s leadership. Interviews and qualitative data of CC negotiators and diplomats both from the EU and third states serve as the main empirical material for this endeavour. While the EU is seen by both the EU and non-EU outsiders as a leader on CC that is pursuing a ‘soft’ leadership strategy – a distinctive combination of structural and instrumental with directional leadership modes – there is some incongruence between the EU and others’ perceptions regarding to specific elements of the leader role. The EU may therefore, I argue, be characterized as a strong and genuine but somewhat restricted leader in the climate regime. (Less)
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author
Kilian, Bertil LU
supervisor
organization
course
STVM17 20091
year
type
H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
subject
keywords
climate change, European Union, leadership, perceptions, roles
language
English
id
1459277
date added to LUP
2009-09-21 08:27:09
date last changed
2009-09-21 08:27:09
@misc{1459277,
  abstract     = {{This thesis examines the notion of the European Union (EU) being a leader in international climate change (CC) politics. It aims at finding out whether the Union is indeed a leader in the area and how this leader role is constructed. As a leader is only a leader when it is perceived as such, the study takes into account a distinct role-theoretical approach that analyzes the self-image of the EU and perceptions of non-EU actors on the EU’s leadership. Interviews and qualitative data of CC negotiators and diplomats both from the EU and third states serve as the main empirical material for this endeavour. While the EU is seen by both the EU and non-EU outsiders as a leader on CC that is pursuing a ‘soft’ leadership strategy – a distinctive combination of structural and instrumental with directional leadership modes – there is some incongruence between the EU and others’ perceptions regarding to specific elements of the leader role. The EU may therefore, I argue, be characterized as a strong and genuine but somewhat restricted leader in the climate regime.}},
  author       = {{Kilian, Bertil}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{A Genuine Green Giant? The European Union's role as a leader in international climate politics}},
  year         = {{2009}},
}