Running Head: EUROPE AS A GLOBAL ACTOR 1 EUROPE AS A GLOBAL ACTOR 2 Europe as a Global Actor Institution Affiliation Name Introduction Nations seek to achieve greater feats or even reach higher goals in their existience and history. The rise and fall of most nations is one example that can be attributed to this clamour for greatness and power. World's greatest and most significant events like the scramble and partition of Africa, the World Wars, sending of the first man to the moon and scientific discoveries were all inspired by the desire of nations seeking to outdo others and take the glory. The European Union as a regional bloc has for years been trying to take back the glory they once had before the United States became the global powerhouse. According to Zielonka (2008), the EU has been making efforts to use it's position and influence to extend it's power to other parts of the world. These efforts have been through economic tools, political strategies and even formal annexations. According to Böröcz , Kovács, Mauro, Sher, Dancsi, & Kabachnik (2001), the Union seems to be working out on new methodologies that can influence international affairs and policies in their favour, however this doesn't seem to bear enough fruits because other nations and regional blocs have their needs and goals too. European Union's tactics seem to be working in a few instances but it is not clear on whether these tactics will work in a global perspective, and therefore it is the high time that the region either dropped the agenda of becoming a super power or changed the tactics (Zielonka, 2008). The EU and International Affairs The EU as an international actor, is seen to act in the best interests of the strong nations and based on this approach, some weak countries do not seem to be important (Böröcz et al., 2001). The Union has influence on so many international bodies like the World Trade Organization and this has pushed economic powerhouses like the USA being called to review their policies to match EU standards. Several Non Governmental Organizations (NGOs) like the Alliance for Climate Change tend to exert pressure and influence favouring the European Union. Most "failed states" like Kosovo and Afghanistan are unable to control their resources and even political power because of the influence of the Union and other strong agencies (Zielonka, 2008, Böröcz et al., 2001). The case is however different for other countries like Singapore and Taiwan which despite not being endowed with natural resources are able to invest in research, smart technologies and marketing. These states usually referred to as "virtual states" are able to stamp their authority and influence in a global level against the expectations of the EU. Nations like the USA, through their strong cultures, robust economies and strong militaries defy the European Union giants in all ways. In most cases these countries might not be able to control international policies or laws, but t.

1. Running Head: EUROPE AS A GLOBAL ACTOR
1
EUROPE AS A GLOBAL ACTOR
2
Europe as a Global Actor
Institution Affiliation
Name
Introduction
Nations seek to achieve greater feats or even reach higher goals
in their existience and history. The rise and fall of most nations
is one example that can be attributed to this clamour for
greatness and power. World's greatest and most significant
events like the scramble and partition of Africa, the World
Wars, sending of the first man to the moon and scientific
discoveries were all inspired by the desire of nations seeking to
outdo others and take the glory. The European Union as a
regional bloc has for years been trying to take back the glory
they once had before the United States became the global
powerhouse.
According to Zielonka (2008), the EU has been making efforts
to use it's position and influence to extend it's power to other
parts of the world. These efforts have been through economic
tools, political strategies and even formal annexations.
According to Böröcz , Kovács, Mauro, Sher, Dancsi, &
Kabachnik (2001), the Union seems to be working out on new
methodologies that can influence international affairs and

2. policies in their favour, however this doesn't seem to bear
enough fruits because other nations and regional blocs have
their needs and goals too. European Union's tactics seem to be
working in a few instances but it is not clear on whether these
tactics will work in a global perspective, and therefore it is the
high time that the region either dropped the agenda of becoming
a super power or changed the tactics (Zielonka, 2008).
The EU and International Affairs
The EU as an international actor, is seen to act in the best
interests of the strong nations and based on this approach, some
weak countries do not seem to be important (Böröcz et al.,
2001). The Union has influence on so many international bodies
like the World Trade Organization and this has pushed
economic powerhouses like the USA being called to review
their policies to match EU standards. Several Non
Governmental Organizations (NGOs) like the Alliance for
Climate Change tend to exert pressure and influence favouring
the European Union. Most "failed states" like Kosovo and
Afghanistan are unable to control their resources and even
political power because of the influence of the Union and other
strong agencies (Zielonka, 2008, Böröcz et al., 2001).
The case is however different for other countries like Singapore
and Taiwan which despite not being endowed with natural
resources are able to invest in research, smart technologies and
marketing. These states usually referred to as "virtual states"
are able to stamp their authority and influence in a global level
against the expectations of the EU.
Nations like the USA, through their strong cultures, robust
economies and strong militaries defy the European Union giants
in all ways. In most cases these countries might not be able to
control international policies or laws, but they are in a position
to either defy, bargain or seek explanations which would in turn

3. be bad for the EU. However, the United States is able to
interfere with affairs of the international community, and at the
same time it has the powers to apply some of it's laws outside
it's territories without the EU questioning (Zielonka, 2008). In
the context of the European Union making efforts to become a
global actor, United States is seen as a thorn in their flesh and
this is yet another reason why the EU cannot become a global
empire.
EU's Regional and Global Agenda
The European Union imperialist pattern is mostly felt at the
region's weak nations in the Eastern and Central parts of the
continent. The EU has been doing this by leveraging on the
stability of other countries in Western Europe, through
economic and political tactics (Zielonka, 2008). The countries
admission to the Union after the Cold War did not give them
power to make decisions or even influence change on existing
policy frameworks. There is seen to exist a huge power
discrepancy between those states and the EU. The Union has
been controlling and monitoring how such states have been
making changes meant to comply with the EU laws and
regulations (Böröcz et al., 2001).
The Euro is the main currency in the Union and it's adoption in
a way weakened the economies of these countries. Most of these
countries depend on hand outs from the European Union, with
most fiscal interventions being done by the EU. States like
Kosovo and Bosnia & Herzegovina are semi-protectorates of the
Union, with a majority of institutions being run by the United
Nations through the EU (Böröcz et al., 2001).
Weak neighbours like Jordan and Lebanon in the regions
sorrounding the EU are helped to stabilize based on conditions
that they will comply with the Union's rules and regulations.
The European Union tries to dominate in these countries with

4. principles of good governance, democracy and economic
growth, however this has only benefited the Union (Böröcz et
al., 2001). The instability of these states is more of a gain to the
EU because they are able to control movements of people and
goods and benefit from oil reserves from the oil rich neighbours
(Zielonka, 2008). The involvement of the European Union in a
country's affairs may take different shapes and forms all
depending on what they seek to gain from providing
"assistance". Most neighbouring weak states are promised
"further integration and liberalization" into the EU as long as
they comply with the conditions set by the European Union.
According to Zielonka (2008), a good example is the Euro-
Mediterranean Agreement with Tunisia which provides the
country to change it's legislation to become uniform with that of
the European Union. However this is meant look good for
Tunisia but in reality, it is only meant to give the European
Union the power to control their strategic amenities.
Regional integration seems to be a success for the EU however
global pressure however seem to be affecting this and key
players like the UK are keen to exit the Union because it is not
good on them as a nation (Zielonka, 2008). The fact that the
world is diverse, makes it difficult for one single power or
union to confine policies. Despite global union being difficult
to attain, the EU has had "gains" in their imperialism goals in
some parts of the world, it is however not clear whether they
can sustain this and even influence more states. As it currently
stands, the EU can only use trade as a tool to "colonize" the rest
of the world because it has an advantage over other players
(Böröcz et al., 2001). However, it is very important to
acknowledge that other actors like China, South East Asia and
Latin America are working with the United States to undo EU's
gains across the world.
Conclusion

5. The battle on who controls the world and influences global
policy is becoming sophisticated on a daily basis. Nations
across different continents are getting into new pacts,
agreements, partnerships and deals to work together, enhance
their capabilities, increase competition, improve their
bargaining powers, control factors of production and become
working partners and friends. Nations in South Asia, Latin
America and Africa are choosing to approach new states outside
the EU as their trade partners denying the Union the opportunity
and ability to influence their policies. Assuming the European
Union decided to work alone to try and dominate the rest of the
world (the Americas, Asia, Antarctica and Africa), this would
not be possible because the external world has more wealth,
bargaining power, and resources as compared to the EU. The
dream of the European Union to becoming the global empire is
thus still far from being possible and would require
repositioning, further strategizing and a new approach that is
relevant for the 21st century and beyond.
References
Böröcz , J., Kovács, M., Mauro, E. D., Sher, A., Dancsi, K., &
Kabachnik, P. (2001). Empire's
New Clothes:
Unveiling EU-Enlargement. Central Europe Review e-books.
Zielonka, J. (2008). Europe as a global actor: empire by
example?. International affairs, 84(3),
471-484.
Europe as a Global Actor Outline
Thesis Statement: European Union's tactics seem to be working
in a few instances but it is not clear on whether these tactics
will work in a global perspective, and therefore it is the high
time that the region either dropped the agenda of becoming a

6. super power or changed the tactics.
I. Introduction
II. The EU and International Affairs
III. EU's Regional and Global Agenda
IV. Conclusion