This project is directed to the study of patterns concerning the European Power in relation to the rest of the world, looking in particular at how and why the European Union has come to assume the role of a global power, and to what extent this status affect the international system. The topic will be addressed through five subthemes closely interrelated: migration, security, development cooperation, social economy and human rights. The aim is to understand these themes in their interrelations and by adopting a truly interdisciplinary perspective involving five different disciplines: law, history, economy, sociology and political science.
This research is particularly important and timely for several reasons. The EU is widely appreciated for its specific international stance (as a sort of civilian power of a new sort), but few consider it to be a world leader. An exploration of the reason of this and the comparison between strengths and weaknesses will therefore be undertaken. In addition, the project explores the possible internal impact of the EU’s external stance: as well as the interaction with the external environment can be considered as a gradual result of the integration process, the endurance of this process (and its positive results) also depends on the ability of the Union to effectively interact with the external environment.
Subthemes