POL S 348 A: European Union as Global Actor

This lecture class surveys the European Union's evolution as a global actor and emergence as a potential superpower. The class is divided into four parts. Part I provides an introduction on the role of the EU as a global actor, of the institutional framework of its Common Foreign and Security Policy, on the European External Action Service (EEAS) as well as on the process of Europeanization of foreign policy. Part II is focused on EU and European public diplomacy abroad. Besides familiarizing the students with the concept of Public Diplomacy from a theoretical viewpoint, the course will examine empirical examples coming from the experience of Western Europe and the European External Action Service. Particular attention will be devoted to the meaning of EU Normative Power in international politics. Part III of the course will be devoted to the investigation of the engagement of the EU as a development actor looking at the European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights (EIDHR), the humanitarian-development-peace nexus and gender dimension. Part IV of the course will then concentrate on Europe-Central Asia Relations, looking specifically at the EU’s support to civil society and at Germany’s engagement in political education in the region.