The European Union and Emerging Powers in the 21st Century: How Europe Can Shape a New Global Order

The emergence of new powers fundamentally questions the traditional views on international relations, multilateralism or security as a range of countries now competes for regional and global leadership - economically, politically, technologically and militarily. As the focus of international attention shifts from the Atlantic to the Pacific, the European states in particular are seen to lose influence relative to the emerging economic powerhouses of China, Russia, India and Brazil. European nations find themselves too small to engage meaningfully with these continent-sized powers and, in an increasingly multipolar world are concerned their influence can only continue to decline. This book analyses the shifts in the structure of global power and examines the threats and opportunities they bring to Europe. Leading European Contributors reflect on how the EU can utilise collective strength to engage and compete with rapidly developing nations. They examine perceptions of the EU among the emerging powers and the true meaning and nature of any strategic partnerships negotiated. Finally they explore the shape and structure of the international system in the 21st century and how the EU can contribute to and shape it.

Table of Contents:
Contents: Introduction, Thomas Renard and Sven Biscop; Part I The Global Order: From emerging power to superpower: a long way to go?, Tanguy Struye de Swielande; Insecurity in the post-liberal age: key security challenges of the early 21st century, Tomas Ries; A multipolar world in the making, Thomas Renard; Multilateralism in crisis? Global governance in the 21st century, Marc Saxer. Part II The EU in the 21st Century: Europe's role in the 21st century, Janis A. Emmanouilidis; Developing a grand strategy for the EU, Jolyon Howorth; The EU's strategic partnerships with emerging powers: institutional, legal, economic and political perspectives, Antoine Sautenet; Is the EU a 'better' global player? An analysis of emerging powers' perceptions, Lorenzo Fioramonti; Asymmetrical multilateralism: the BRICS, the US, Europe and the reform of global governance (2005-2011), Richard Gowan. Conclusion: From global disorder to an effective multilateral order: an agenda for the EU, Thomas Renard and Sven Biscop; Index.

About the Author :
Thomas Renard is a Research Fellow in the Europe in the World Programme at Egmont - Royal Institute for International Relations. Sven Biscop is Director of Egmont's Europe in the World Programme and visiting professor at the College of Europe in Bruges and at Ghent University.

Review :
'With an expert set of contributors eruditely tackling the EU's capacity for influence in the new international environment this is a must-read for analysts and practitioners seeking insight on THE foreign policy challenge for Europe.' Richard G. Whitman, University of Kent, UK 'This edited collection by Renard and Biscop offers an in-depth analysis of on-going challenges and changes to the international security structure. It complements this with a thought provoking exploration of the likely role the EU should play and the external instruments it should apply to contribute effectively to the pursuance of international peace and stability. An impressive achievement that will become required reading in the field of security studies.' Emil J. Kirchner, University of Essex, UK 'How well is the European Union positioned to deal with rising powers and the shifting nature of global governance? Does the EU offer a model for the future, or is it stuck in the past? The authors in this volume offer compelling insights into the dynamic interplay between the EU and a rapidly changing global environment.' Daniel Hamilton, Johns Hopkins University, USA '... it is well-edited, and each contribution is well-written... The European Union and the Emerging Powers in the 21st Century is a worthy book to acquire and read, particularly by any student of European studies. It provides an excellent snapshot of one of the pre-eminent European perspectives on the European Union’s place in the world, and from a range of authors.' European Geostrategy 'Comprising nine chapters, this work on international relations provides an interesting summary on the evolution of the BRIC (Brazil, Russia, India, China), as well as and especially, on the position of the European Union towards them. The various political, diplomatic or economic aspects are taken into account to examine the possibility of a grand European strategy, as well as suggesting the possibility that the European Union may be both a