The EU, the grand strategy and the challenge of rising and revisionist powers

As a grand strategy, European Union Global Strategy (EUGS) is a roadmap to convert the European Union (EU) in a key strategic actor. The evidence of some conceptual vulnerabilities, particularly the EU lack of classical means and strategic autonomy, limits its implementation. Thus, this article aims to find some relevant actions that the EU needs to put in place to enhance her global image as a credible and specialized actor where the power of her strategic partners, as NATO and United Sates, need to be complemented. To that effect, first, the EU must demonstrate leadership and mobilize the support of member states to carry out its strategy. Second, it must leverage its strategic autonomy by intervening in crises and conflicts where the military means are not the most important. Third, it must focus on preventing or solving the problems in the EU’s neighbourhood as it will suffer direct repercussions if it fails to do so. Implementing the EUGS will require a generic but encompassing grand strategy concept; to communicate its achievements through annual reviews, laying a foundation upon which the EU can build its internal and external credibility, providing it with the strategic autonomy it so direly needs. Finally, the EU must invest on Europeanization processes by ‘transforming’ societies through the ‘global’ application of EU instruments.

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Introduction

The International Politics of EU-China Relations ◽

10.5871/bacad/9780197264089.003.0001 ◽

2007 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

DAVID KERR ◽

LIU FEI

Keyword(s):

International Relations ◽

Global Governance ◽

Final Section ◽

Grand Strategy ◽

International Conference ◽

The Third ◽

Different Dimensions ◽

Security Relationship ◽

The Eu

An international conference was held in London in April 2006 to examine the different dimensions of the emerging political and security relationship between the EU and China. Organized jointly by a British and a Chinese partner under the guidance of the British Academy's International Relations Department, the conference brought together European, Chinese and international academics, analysts and policymakers. The papers in this volume reflect the diverse discussions at the conference. The first section of this book addresses the important question of strategic identities and behaviour. From considerations of grand strategy, the second section turns to the role of society and governments in the European–Chinese relationship. The third section discusses attempts to approach this question by examining problems and prospects for European–Chinese engagement in regional and global governance. The final section presents different longer-term perspectives on EU–China relations.

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