Brexit and the Changing Faces of EU Diplomacy

It is becoming clearer that modern day diplomacy is consistently inclined towards eliding the confines of nation-states. With the emergence of regional arrangements and mechanisms, diplomacy, in the last half of a century, entered into another level altogether. But things could change, and perhaps faster than anyone foresaw. Writing on this matter and taking the case of the EU, few years ago, Batora and Hocking attempted a demonstration of the complexity of diplomacy within the EU. Their argument was that the EU stood as an entity which was largely engaged in diplomatic relations with other regional organizations and blocs but also with other states, as well as the international community. However, within the EU itself states were seen as constantly engaged in bilateral diplomatic relations. The issue which member states have been battling with according to Batora and Hocking is an institutional search for organizing external affairs at a time when traditional models seem to face enormous challenges as they battle with increasing international, regional and domestic pressure.

The EU therefore has always worked constantly to establish its own diplomatic machine. This has never been easy given that in a regional arrangement, members are sovereign states and each state has its own national interests apart from the regional interests. Balancing the two and positioning itself as a regional bloc takes a diplomatic toll on the EU. The authors suggested that the EU represents an evolving diplomatic milieu swinging between the diplomatic modernity originating from the Westphalian conception and the post-modern diplomatic trends which transcends the nation-state. Now the Brexit only helps to make the EU diplomacy a little more complicated; a little more interesting.