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Understanding EU policy - Ideas and culture

4 important questions on Understanding EU policy - Ideas and culture

What is it that liberal and realist theories have missed about IR, according to a constructivist approach?

Liberal and realist theories focus too much on the material aspects of cooperation.

On what should we focus when we study IR, according to constructivism?

We should focus on the meanings that are associated with key words and concepts of international relations. And we should pay attention to how that meaning has come into place and is changed over time?

How does constructivism view institutions like the Council of the EU in the European Union, in international relations?

These institutions are vehicles through which representatives of national governments can together understand how an international organisation like the EU should act in international affairs

What is the basis for the identity of the EU and what is that identity good for?

On the basis of the identity lies in treaties and in things like strategies and policies. With this identity the EU is able to influence international events by stressing certain values on which that identity is based