This course offers a comprehensive introduction to the role of the European Union in international politics. The European Union （EU） is a unique experiment in international co - operation. The EU now has 27 members, all of whom are democracies, and it wields considerable diplomatic, economic and cultural influence in international relations. We will investigate the reasons behind this unique political experiment, and consider how successful it has been. We will study the major treaties, institutions, and policies of the EU. The tension between European integration and the foreign policies of EU member states will be acknowledged and examined. The EU has been described as an economic giant, a political pygmy, and a military worm. We will look at the considerable economic power which the EU posesses, and the way in which it uses this power in international relations. We will study the evolution and limitations of the EU's Common Foreign and Security Policy, and the divisions within Europe over foreign policy. We will also study the successes and failures of the EU with regard to enlargement and conflict prevention.
