Discussion of to what extent the european union is an influential actor in the world of international politics

Europe's multiple identities, be it geographical, political, institutional, economical, or moral identities or any combination must be taken into consideration when analysing whether the European Union is an international actor. The European Union's influence in world affairs is on the increase. The process of integration, the launch of the Euro and the progressive development of a common foreign and security policy are all providing the EU with political and diplomatic status to match its undoubted …

…clear foreign policy. In this era as the US emerges as the only hegemon in the world political landscape the EU must act as a buffer to the US foreign policy. Bibliography M. Levitt and C. Lord, The Political Economy of Monetary Union, Macmillan, 2000 Bealey, Frank, Chapman, Richard A. and Sheehan, Michael J. Elements in political science Edinburgh, UK: Edinburgh University Press, 1999. http://www.euglobalplayer.org/ http://www.ecdel.org.au/eu_global_player/6.htm