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.
Brexit and the Changing Faces of EU Diplomacy
Reviewed by Ibrahim Magara
on
July 19, 2016
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