ABSTRACT

This book examines the perception of European Union’s identity by the main actors in international relations.

Analysing issues related to public discourse in third countries as demonstrated by, amongst others, their political elites, civil society, and think-tanks, the book highlights a ‘normative gap’ with regards to the European Union's self-definition/perception and its perception in the international environment. It also shows that the European Union’s perception of normative power in international relations is not shared consistently by the main principal actor yet is differentiated relative to geographical area and scope of activities undertaken by the EU. It demonstrates that the perception of the EU’s normative identity is a source of the crisis of the European Union as an effective and significant player in the international arena.

This book will be of key interest to scholar and students of European Union politics, European politics/studies, European integration, identity politics, and international relations.

chapter 1|8 pages

Introduction

Theoretical and methodological background of the survey

chapter 4|47 pages

The social construction of identity and belonging

Perceptions of EU in the Western Balkans

chapter 7|12 pages

From the hopeless continent towards the rising star

The perceptions of the European Union by African elites

chapter 9|16 pages

East Asia–European Union relations

The case of Japan and South Korea in the last decade

chapter 12|7 pages

Conclusions