Constructing Interfaces: the Neighbourhood Discourse in EU External Policy

Bengtsson, Rikard

doi:10.1080/07036330802439582

Cited by 17 publications

(11 citation statements)

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“…One solution to this problem could be Manners's contention that there is a qualitative difference between norms spread for a power's own interests and for normative ends (Forsberg 2009;Manners 2008b). But this solution contradicts the argument that normative powers serve their own interests too (Bengtsson 2008;Diez 2005;Hyde-Price 2008: 33;Laidi 2008;Rees 2008). What, then, would distinguish a normative power from other categories of power?…”

Section: Categories Of Powermentioning

confidence: 68%

“…This can be observed in its distinct norm-driven practices and their adoption by third parties. Notwithstanding the example above, norm-driven practices cannot be assumed to be morally 'good' by definition (Jørgensen 2006;Merlingen 2007;Sjursen 2006: 236); nor can norms be considered free by definition from interests (Bengtsson 2008;Diez 2005;HydePrice 2008: 33;Laidi 2008;Rees 2008). The spread of European norms contributes to the EU's security and to its comparative advantage in the world economy.…”

Section: Normative Power Europe: a Characterizationmentioning

confidence: 95%

“…Similar questions have been raised in the case of the recognition of the democratically elected Hamas government (Pace 2007) and the EU's co-operation with the non-democratic regime in Tunisia (Powel 2009). Tension has also appeared in the European Neighbourhood Policy: the practice of conditionality stands in contrast to partnership rhetoric (Bengtsson 2008). Research on outsiders' perspectives of the EU in the world is limited and, with some exceptions, omits any direct reference to its self-image as a normative power (Barbé and Johansson-Nogués 2008;Chaban et al 2006;Elgstrom 2007a;2007b;Lucarelli 2007;Lucarelli and Fioramonti 2008).…”

Section: Normative Power Europe: a Characterizationmentioning

confidence: 95%

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Normative power spotting: an ontological and methodological appraisal

Zutter¹

2010

Journal of European Public Policy

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This article presents a renewed critical engagement with normative power. It overcomes the conceptual vagueness and force-for-good connotation inherent in much of the scholarship on normative power by privileging the ontological question and concentrates on what is a normative power. It offers a characterization of normative power and argues that neither universal norms nor a particular set of instruments can be considered as ontological necessities. They do determine the forms of normative power: cosmopolitan; soft imperialist; and despotic.The four-step methodology, presented in this article, to 'spot' a normative power and the forms of normative power rely on a clear distinction between the ethical and the ontological question on normative power. It does not ignore ethical considerations; rather the comparison of different forms of normative power offers the intellectual tools to recognize deviations from the ethical ideal-type of cosmopolitan normative power.

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Section: Categories Of Powermentioning

confidence: 68%

Section: Normative Power Europe: a Characterizationmentioning

confidence: 95%

Section: Normative Power Europe: a Characterizationmentioning

confidence: 95%

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Normative power spotting: an ontological and methodological appraisal

Zutter¹

2010

Journal of European Public Policy

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“…53–54), as well as in the UN peace operation programmes (Wilén , p. 340; von Billerbeck ). Just a few years later, the EU also used similar rhetoric in its external policies vis‐à‐vis accessing states (Kelley ; Bengtsson ; Coman ).…”

Section: Ownership and The European Semestermentioning

confidence: 99%

Macro‐economic coordination and elusive ownership in the European Union

Vanheuverzwijn

Crespy

2018

Public Administration

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The notion of ownership is well known in relation to global governance. In the realm of EU macro‐economic coordination, it has become a buzzword since the revamping process of the European Semester in 2015. This article investigates how ownership by four types of domestic actors (governments, administrations, parliaments and social partners) manifests itself in the European Semester. We conceptualize three types of ownership, namely institutional, political, and cognitive. Using network analysis, semi‐structured interviews, and a small‐scale survey, we find that ownership is strongest among governments and administrations which are able to shape the outputs of the European Semester (institutional ownership) with little political disagreement (political ownership). While national parliaments display low levels of all types of ownership, employers and unions exhibit relatively strong cognitive ownership. We conclude that the European Semester remains a bureaucratic process contributing to building a multi‐level administrative space rather than an arena for political debates.

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“…The ENP framework, built on socialization and positive conditionality, is an obvious illustration of how EU role conception is expressed and translated into regional policy. In conclusion, then, EU representatives consider the EU a normative great power in relation to the Eastern neighborhood (Bengtsson 2008, 2009a).…”

Section: Case Study I: the Eu The Eastern Neighborhood And Russia2mentioning

confidence: 99%

Conflicting Role Conceptions? The European Union in Global Politics1

Bengtsson

Elgström

2011

Foreign Policy Analysis

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This article utilizes role theory for analysing the role(s) of the European Union (EU) in global politics. Specifically addressing the interplay of the EU's own role perception and the role expectations held by other actors, the article contributes two case studies of the role(s) of the EU in relation to two important but different actor groupings-Eastern Europe including Russia and the ACP countries in the developing world, respectively. The analysis points to the tensions that exist between selfperceptions and the perceptions of the EU's counterparts in Eastern Europe and the developing world, and how these tensions influences the interaction between the actors.The European Union increasingly aspires to play a leading role in global politics. It engages itself in negotiations, cooperation schemes, and conflict resolution processes with a vast number of actors utilizing an expanding set of tools. Due to its unique nature, the EU is often said to be different great power. The degree to which it succeeds in its great power ambitions is a complex matter, however, related to both the character of the issue-area in focus (for instance in terms of EU competence and resources and the relative strength of other actors) and how it is perceived by others on the international scene.The aim of this article is to investigate the EU's role(s) as an international actor. Utilizing role theory, we analyse both the EU's own role perception and the role expectations held by outsiders. We are interested in three interrelated aspects-the constitutive elements of a common EU role conception, possible role competition, and the degree of coherence between role conceptions and perceived role performance. Special attention is paid to the alleged normative power role of the EU and how, if at all, this role is reflected in outsiders' perceptions. We include case studies of the Union's roles in its relations with two important actor constellations: its eastern neighbors, notably Russia, and its ''partners'' in the developing world, specifically the ACP countries (the African, Caribbean, and Pacific states). We posit that the complex and dynamic interplay between an actor's own role conception, on the one hand, and the structurally guided role expectations of others, on the other hand, constitutes a main advantage of role theory and speaks directly to the issue of integrating foreign policy analysis and international relations theory.

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Constructing Interfaces: the Neighbourhood Discourse in EU External Policy

Cited by 17 publications

References 11 publications

Normative power spotting: an ontological and methodological appraisal

Normative power spotting: an ontological and methodological appraisal

Macro‐economic coordination and elusive ownership in the European Union

Conflicting Role Conceptions? The European Union in Global Politics1

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