The International Relations of the EU

What is the EU doing in its relationships with the rest of the world and to what effect? These are the questions that TheInternational Relations of the EU tries to answer.

In an incisive and lively discussion, both the economic and security dimensions of the EU external relations are examined.  The authors take an innovative combination of  International Relations/International Political Economy approaches to the task. Their critical analysis of the EU across a range of its key international relationships provides new insights into its ambitions, strengths and weaknesses as an international actor.

Written in an engaging and accessible style, this book provides a refreshing alternative to the often more narrowly focused literature on the EU. Set against a backdrop of EU enlargement, disarray over the military intervention in Iraq and an evolving international system that poses it new challenges, The International Relations of the EU is a timely and important contribution to our understanding of the Union's role and impact in contemporary international relations.

The International Relations of the EU

is a key text on any course on international relations and especially for courses on the EU and its external relations.

Highlights

• Provides historical contextualisation of the EU's development as an international actor
• Analyses post-Cold War EC/EU competencies and reforms
• Examines the post-Cold War EU-US relationship
• Investigates the EUs contemporary external relations with its immediate neighbours
• Examines the EUs international relations in a global context
• Assesses strengths and weaknesses in the EUs external relations
• Highlights issues likely to affect the EUs future course as a global economic and security actor.

Steve Marsh is Director of European Union Studies at Cardiff University and has research interests in European Union external relations, British foreign policy, American foreign policy and Anglo-American relations. His previous books include Anglo-American Relations and Cold War Oil and the co-authored US Foreign Policy Since 1945.

Hans Mackenstein is Professor of International Business at Aachen University of Applied Sciences and vice-Dean of the Faculty of Business and Economic Science. He worked previously in the banking sector, for the European Commission and as a Jean Monnet lecturer and has research interests and publications in German federalism, especially financial equalisation, multi-layered governance and international business and economics.