EU lecture 2: The evolution of the EU: Exercising different kinds of power
What kind of power is the EU?
1. Civilian Power:
● Origin: The idea was first coined by François Duchêne in the 1970s and
further developed by Hanns Maull in the context of Germany's international
role.
● Meaning: A civilian power emphasizes non-military tools, such as economic
and diplomatic means, to achieve its international objectives. It believes in
resolving disputes through negotiation, cooperation, and multilateralism.
● EU Context: The EU, especially in its early days, was seen as a prime example
because it emphasized trade, aid, diplomacy, and multilateralism over military
might.
2. Soft Power:
● Origin: Joseph Nye introduced this concept in the late 1980s and early 1990s.
● Meaning: Soft power is the ability of a country to persuade others to do what it
wants without force or coercion. It is rooted in culture, political ideals, and
foreign policies which are seen as legitimate and having moral authority.
● EU Context: The EU, with its emphasis on human rights, democracy, and rule
of law, wields considerable soft power, attracting others through the appeal of
its values and lifestyle.
3. Normative Power:
● Origin: Ian Manners popularized this term specifically in the context of the
EU.
● Meaning: A normative power is one that shapes the norms and values of the
international system. It doesn't just act based on interests but also on its values
and principles.
● EU Context: The EU is seen as a normative power because it promotes
principles such as democracy, human rights, and sustainable development on
the international stage.
4. Transformative Power:
● Origin: Heather Grabbe discussed this in the context of EU enlargement.
● Meaning: A transformative power influences other entities to adopt its rules,
norms, and regulations, often as a condition for some kind of membership or
association.
● EU Context: The EU's enlargement process is a prime example, as countries
wanting to join the EU have to undergo significant reforms to align with EU
standards in various fields, from democracy and rule of law to economic
regulations.
5. Collective Power:
● Origin: Laffan's conceptualization in the context of the EU.
● Meaning: Collective power is derived from the collective ability of member
states or entities to act and exercise agency together. It is about the outcomes
achieved through unity.
, ● EU Context: Despite its diverse membership, when the EU acts as one, it can
wield significant power on the global stage, be it in trade negotiations, climate
change commitments, or diplomatic endeavors.
What is power?
1. Power Over:
● Definition: This refers to the ability of an actor (or actors) to influence,
control, or dictate the choices and actions of another actor (or actors). It's
essentially a hierarchical or dominating form of power, often implying
coercion or constraint.
● Examples: A government imposing sanctions on another country, an employer
setting strict rules for employees, or a stronger country dictating terms in a
treaty to a weaker one.
● Citation Context: As per Allen (1999) in Laffan (2022), "power over" is about
constraining the choices available to other entities. This perspective
emphasizes the relational aspect of power: one actor's gain in power often
comes at the expense of another's.
2. Power To:
● Definition: This concept refers to the capacity or ability to act, to accomplish
something, or to bring about a desired outcome. It's an enabling form of
power, emphasizing potential or actualized agency.
● Examples: A community coming together to build a school, a country
developing its infrastructure to boost its economy, or an individual acquiring
skills to achieve personal goals.
● Citation Context: Drawing from Parsons (1963) in Laffan (2022), "power to"
underscores the constructive, proactive facet of power. Instead of being about
dominance or suppression, it's about creating, achieving, or enabling.
Soft power:
"Soft power" is a term coined by Joseph Nye in the late 20th century to describe a form of
influence that is distinct from the traditional or "hard" power mechanisms like military or
economic force. Instead of compelling states to do what one wants, soft power is about
persuading or attracting them to align with one's interests.
1. Co-optive Power to Attract States in One’s Orbit:
● This means influencing other countries not by forcing them, but by making
them want to emulate or align with you. It's about creating an appeal or allure
that draws other states towards your values, culture, or policies.
2. Making Use of Economic Interdependence:
● This refers to the mutual dependencies in the global economy. A country with
significant economic influence can use its interconnectedness with other
economies as a tool for cooperation or to shape global norms.
3. Possessing Capacity for Effective Communication:
, ● The ability to communicate values, ideas, and policies effectively is crucial for
projecting soft power. This includes everything from public diplomacy and
international broadcasting to cultural exchanges and global brands.
4. Developing and Using Multilateral Institutions:
● Countries that can shape and utilize international institutions (like the UN,
WHO, or WTO) to foster cooperation and build norms exert significant soft
power. This approach underscores the importance of international
collaboration and rule-based order.
5. Shaping International Norms:
● Establishing and promoting norms, values, and standards that other countries
want to follow or respect is another dimension of soft power. This could be
related to human rights, environmental standards, or rules of trade, among
others.
6. Mobilises ‘Intangible Factors such as Ideology, Culture, and Institutions’:
● Soft power often thrives on the intangible. This means the cultural appeal
(e.g., Hollywood or K-pop), the allure of a particular ideology (e.g.,
democracy or freedom), and the influence of institutions (e.g., universities or
think tanks) can sway global opinions and preferences.
Normative power:
The concept of "normative power" as developed by Ian Manners specifically relates to the
European Union (EU) and how it exerts influence on the international stage. Unlike
traditional forms of power based on military strength or economic leverage, normative power
is about the ability to shape the understanding of "normal" in international relations.
1. EU as a Uniquely Distinctive International Actor:
● The EU is viewed as a unique entity in global politics. It is not a traditional
state, and it doesn't act like one either. Its structure and its history have made it
lean towards promoting norms, rules, and shared values.
2. Rooted in Legitimate Principles:
● Manners argues that the EU's normative power is grounded in a set of core
values and principles, such as democracy, human rights, and the rule of law.
These principles guide its external actions.
3. Exercised through Non-Coercive Actions:
● The EU tends to use methods like argumentation, persuasion, naming and
shaming, and socializing to exert its influence. It rarely resorts to the use of
force.
4. Norm Diffusion:
● Manners highlights several ways the EU spreads its norms to other parts of the
world:
● Contagion: The mere existence and success of the EU model and its
norms can inspire others to adopt similar values.
● Informational Diffusion: Sharing of information to propagate norms.
● Procedural Diffusion: Embedding norms in procedures and practices.
What kind of power is the EU?
1. Civilian Power:
● Origin: The idea was first coined by François Duchêne in the 1970s and
further developed by Hanns Maull in the context of Germany's international
role.
● Meaning: A civilian power emphasizes non-military tools, such as economic
and diplomatic means, to achieve its international objectives. It believes in
resolving disputes through negotiation, cooperation, and multilateralism.
● EU Context: The EU, especially in its early days, was seen as a prime example
because it emphasized trade, aid, diplomacy, and multilateralism over military
might.
2. Soft Power:
● Origin: Joseph Nye introduced this concept in the late 1980s and early 1990s.
● Meaning: Soft power is the ability of a country to persuade others to do what it
wants without force or coercion. It is rooted in culture, political ideals, and
foreign policies which are seen as legitimate and having moral authority.
● EU Context: The EU, with its emphasis on human rights, democracy, and rule
of law, wields considerable soft power, attracting others through the appeal of
its values and lifestyle.
3. Normative Power:
● Origin: Ian Manners popularized this term specifically in the context of the
EU.
● Meaning: A normative power is one that shapes the norms and values of the
international system. It doesn't just act based on interests but also on its values
and principles.
● EU Context: The EU is seen as a normative power because it promotes
principles such as democracy, human rights, and sustainable development on
the international stage.
4. Transformative Power:
● Origin: Heather Grabbe discussed this in the context of EU enlargement.
● Meaning: A transformative power influences other entities to adopt its rules,
norms, and regulations, often as a condition for some kind of membership or
association.
● EU Context: The EU's enlargement process is a prime example, as countries
wanting to join the EU have to undergo significant reforms to align with EU
standards in various fields, from democracy and rule of law to economic
regulations.
5. Collective Power:
● Origin: Laffan's conceptualization in the context of the EU.
● Meaning: Collective power is derived from the collective ability of member
states or entities to act and exercise agency together. It is about the outcomes
achieved through unity.
, ● EU Context: Despite its diverse membership, when the EU acts as one, it can
wield significant power on the global stage, be it in trade negotiations, climate
change commitments, or diplomatic endeavors.
What is power?
1. Power Over:
● Definition: This refers to the ability of an actor (or actors) to influence,
control, or dictate the choices and actions of another actor (or actors). It's
essentially a hierarchical or dominating form of power, often implying
coercion or constraint.
● Examples: A government imposing sanctions on another country, an employer
setting strict rules for employees, or a stronger country dictating terms in a
treaty to a weaker one.
● Citation Context: As per Allen (1999) in Laffan (2022), "power over" is about
constraining the choices available to other entities. This perspective
emphasizes the relational aspect of power: one actor's gain in power often
comes at the expense of another's.
2. Power To:
● Definition: This concept refers to the capacity or ability to act, to accomplish
something, or to bring about a desired outcome. It's an enabling form of
power, emphasizing potential or actualized agency.
● Examples: A community coming together to build a school, a country
developing its infrastructure to boost its economy, or an individual acquiring
skills to achieve personal goals.
● Citation Context: Drawing from Parsons (1963) in Laffan (2022), "power to"
underscores the constructive, proactive facet of power. Instead of being about
dominance or suppression, it's about creating, achieving, or enabling.
Soft power:
"Soft power" is a term coined by Joseph Nye in the late 20th century to describe a form of
influence that is distinct from the traditional or "hard" power mechanisms like military or
economic force. Instead of compelling states to do what one wants, soft power is about
persuading or attracting them to align with one's interests.
1. Co-optive Power to Attract States in One’s Orbit:
● This means influencing other countries not by forcing them, but by making
them want to emulate or align with you. It's about creating an appeal or allure
that draws other states towards your values, culture, or policies.
2. Making Use of Economic Interdependence:
● This refers to the mutual dependencies in the global economy. A country with
significant economic influence can use its interconnectedness with other
economies as a tool for cooperation or to shape global norms.
3. Possessing Capacity for Effective Communication:
, ● The ability to communicate values, ideas, and policies effectively is crucial for
projecting soft power. This includes everything from public diplomacy and
international broadcasting to cultural exchanges and global brands.
4. Developing and Using Multilateral Institutions:
● Countries that can shape and utilize international institutions (like the UN,
WHO, or WTO) to foster cooperation and build norms exert significant soft
power. This approach underscores the importance of international
collaboration and rule-based order.
5. Shaping International Norms:
● Establishing and promoting norms, values, and standards that other countries
want to follow or respect is another dimension of soft power. This could be
related to human rights, environmental standards, or rules of trade, among
others.
6. Mobilises ‘Intangible Factors such as Ideology, Culture, and Institutions’:
● Soft power often thrives on the intangible. This means the cultural appeal
(e.g., Hollywood or K-pop), the allure of a particular ideology (e.g.,
democracy or freedom), and the influence of institutions (e.g., universities or
think tanks) can sway global opinions and preferences.
Normative power:
The concept of "normative power" as developed by Ian Manners specifically relates to the
European Union (EU) and how it exerts influence on the international stage. Unlike
traditional forms of power based on military strength or economic leverage, normative power
is about the ability to shape the understanding of "normal" in international relations.
1. EU as a Uniquely Distinctive International Actor:
● The EU is viewed as a unique entity in global politics. It is not a traditional
state, and it doesn't act like one either. Its structure and its history have made it
lean towards promoting norms, rules, and shared values.
2. Rooted in Legitimate Principles:
● Manners argues that the EU's normative power is grounded in a set of core
values and principles, such as democracy, human rights, and the rule of law.
These principles guide its external actions.
3. Exercised through Non-Coercive Actions:
● The EU tends to use methods like argumentation, persuasion, naming and
shaming, and socializing to exert its influence. It rarely resorts to the use of
force.
4. Norm Diffusion:
● Manners highlights several ways the EU spreads its norms to other parts of the
world:
● Contagion: The mere existence and success of the EU model and its
norms can inspire others to adopt similar values.
● Informational Diffusion: Sharing of information to propagate norms.
● Procedural Diffusion: Embedding norms in procedures and practices.
