International institutions and the power of the EU: How has it been affected by the financial crisis?
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Jan-David Blaese
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International institutions and the power of the EU: How has it been affected by the financial crisis?
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Anchor Academic Publishing
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9783954895113
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1
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CHF 26.80
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Vergleichende und internationale Politikwissenschaft
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English
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67
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kein Kopierschutz/DRM
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PC/MAC/eReader/Tablet
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PDF
Power shifts happened several times throughout history, but they do not occur frequently and are often connected with the use of force. Presently, there is a power shift from the western industrialized states, e.g., from member states of the European Union (EU), to Asian states, in particular China. However, in spite of this growth, it is disputed to what extent the rise of these economies already transcended into power and how it will develop in the future. What is clear by now is that the recent global financial and economic crisis was the worst one in post World War II history. The crisis emerged in the United States and then spread to the EU and to other countries. It led to quickly rising public debt levels in western industrialized states. During this time, states like China or India extended their participation within global economic governance foras, such as the International Monetary Fund (IMF) or the G20. This raises the question of how the power of the European Union within these international institutions was affected by the crisis? The purpose of this publication is to research this question. Consequently, the examination is situated within the domain of the global financial and economic crisis, the shift of power and the power of the EU in international institutions. In order to give an answer to the above stated question, the power shift in international institutions during the time of crisis is to be assessed. The IMF and the G20 are analyzed in depth in order to shed light on the topic. The results then help to identify the trend of EU power.
In 2010, Jan-David Blaese completed his Magister Artium in Politischen Wissenschaften, Neuerer Geschichte, and Öffentlichem Recht at the Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universitä Bonn. To further deepen his knowledge of international and European politics, he then completed a Master's degree in European Studies at the center for Europäische Integrationsforschung in Bonn. Having completed his MA, the author worked for the Bureau of European Policy Advisors at the European commission in Brussels.
Text Sample: Chapter 2.,Conceptual and theoretical framework: 2.1, The notion of power: ,International politics, like all politics, is a struggle for power' - this is the introductory statement that Hans J. Morgenthau formulated in his famous work 'Politics among Nations'. Not only Morgenthau, but numerous scholars, like Thucydides and Machiavelli, have been concerned with the notion of power. The more recent attempts to explore the term 'power' often build on the definition given by Max Weber: power is the ,opportunity [Chance] to have one's will prevail [durchsetzen] within a social relationship, also against resistance, no matter what this opportunity is based on'. Three main findings can be drawn from this definition: firstly, power is presented as a social relationship, i.e. a relational phenomenon. Secondly, the identification of power allows an identification of the position someone is placed in compared to others. Thirdly, this definition encompasses two oppositional aspects, resistance and cooperation. In order to measure power and power positions of actors in international relations, two broad lines of argumentation have de
International institutions and the power of the EU
1
Table of Contents
4
1. Introduction
5
1.1 Purpose of this publication
5
1.2 Structure of the paper and state of research
6
2. Conceptual and theoretical framework
8
2.1 The notion of power
8
2.2 Power concepts of the European Union as an international actor
11
2.3 Institutions in international relations theory
13
2.4 Concluding remarks on the conceptual and theoretical framework
15
3. The global financial and economic crisis and the reactions of the European Union
16
4. The power of the European Union in the International Monetary Fund and the G20 during the global financial and economic crisis
20
4.1 The International Monetary Fund
20
4.1.1 The function and quota structure of the International Monetary Fund
20
4.1.2 Development up to and during the global financial and economic crisis
23
4.1.3 The power of the European Union before and after the crisis
25
4.2 The G20
30
4.2.1 The structure and function of the G20
30
4.2.2 Development during the global financial and economic crisis
32
4.2.3 The power of the European Union before and after the crisis
34
5. Conclusion: How did the crisis affect the Unions’ power in international institutions like the IMF and the G20?
43
6. Bibliography
47
7. Annexes
58
8. List of Abbreviations
67
