Any international actor, as the player of a social comedy, performs a role and seeks to maintain a certain coherence between his behaviour and his self-perception within the given role. Problems that usually arise with any role-player have to do with the multiplicity of roles played, the degree of internal agreement on the self-image arising from a specific role, and the ability of the actor to behave consequently (i.e. consistently). In the case of the EU these problems are amplified by its institutional nature. This chapter tackles the question "which role does the EU play in world politics?" by taking the unconventional perspective of looking at the specific values and principles that emerge out of the analysis of the EU foreign policy. The analysis shows that what is more distinctive of the EU is a peculiar interpretation of a set of values and principles that are shared by a large part of the West and beyond. The chapter goes on to investigate the origin of such interpretations and the specific link between interpreted values, role articulation (i.e. declaratory policy) and role performance (i.e. operational politics). Finally, it deals with the limits posed by interpretation inconsistencies in EU foreign policy to the definition of specific EU roles in international politics.
Interpreted Values: A Normative Reading of EU Role Articulation & Performance
LUCARELLI, SONIA
2006
Abstract
Any international actor, as the player of a social comedy, performs a role and seeks to maintain a certain coherence between his behaviour and his self-perception within the given role. Problems that usually arise with any role-player have to do with the multiplicity of roles played, the degree of internal agreement on the self-image arising from a specific role, and the ability of the actor to behave consequently (i.e. consistently). In the case of the EU these problems are amplified by its institutional nature. This chapter tackles the question "which role does the EU play in world politics?" by taking the unconventional perspective of looking at the specific values and principles that emerge out of the analysis of the EU foreign policy. The analysis shows that what is more distinctive of the EU is a peculiar interpretation of a set of values and principles that are shared by a large part of the West and beyond. The chapter goes on to investigate the origin of such interpretations and the specific link between interpreted values, role articulation (i.e. declaratory policy) and role performance (i.e. operational politics). Finally, it deals with the limits posed by interpretation inconsistencies in EU foreign policy to the definition of specific EU roles in international politics.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
