The Political Weakness of the EU in East Asia: A Constructivist Approach

TY - JOUR

T1 - The Political Weakness of the EU in East Asia: A Constructivist Approach

AU - Pacheco Pardo, Ramon

PY - 2009/6

Y1 - 2009/6

N2 - This paper provides a constructivist explanation of the political weakness of the EU in East Asia. By examining the corporate identity of the EU as well as its social identities towards ASEM, China and Japan, I argue that the identities which the EU has constructed towards the outside world and in relation to the region, based on self recognitions of its superpower status and the defence of certain political values, is disliked by both China and Japan for different reasons. Without the support of the two regional superpowers, the EU is not capable of getting involved in the resolution of East Asian hard political affairs.

AB - This paper provides a constructivist explanation of the political weakness of the EU in East Asia. By examining the corporate identity of the EU as well as its social identities towards ASEM, China and Japan, I argue that the identities which the EU has constructed towards the outside world and in relation to the region, based on self recognitions of its superpower status and the defence of certain political values, is disliked by both China and Japan for different reasons. Without the support of the two regional superpowers, the EU is not capable of getting involved in the resolution of East Asian hard political affairs.

U2 - 10.1007/s10308-009-0228-0

DO - 10.1007/s10308-009-0228-0

M3 - Article

VL - 7

SP - 265

EP - 280

JO - Asia Europe Journal

JF - Asia Europe Journal

IS - 2

ER -