In this important new book, John McCormick argues that the EU has become an economic and political superpower, whose new global role calls into doubt most of the recent assessments of unipolarity in world politics and American "empire". In his inimitably clear and accessible style, McCormick shows how the rise of Europe has been underplayed because of traditional notions of power politics based on military might which, he argues, are much less relevant than in the past.

Praise

"The notion of Europe as a new superpower has been widely popularised but this scholarly but accessible book provides the first serious and systematic presentation of the case. John McCormick argues that Europe is a new sort of superpower which combines civilian and military instruments in a unique and unprecedented way giving it many advantages over the US in a world in which, as Iraq has shown, hard power has clear limits and soft power backed by tangible means is a commodity of growing significance."--Jolyon Howorth, Yale University

 

"A number of recent books advance the argument that Europe will soon become a superpower. This book argues that that day has already arrived. Even those who remain unconvinced by this claim will find much food for thought in the author's arguments about the changing bases of power and influence in the 21st century."--David Andrews, Scripps College and European Union Center of California

 

"[I]ntriguing and provocative… empirically rich [and] skilfully researched… a thought-provoking assessment of the EU's international influence." -- Johan Eliasson, EUSA Review

 

'[I]nteresting, engaging, cogent, and highly provocative... this is a book that merits serious attention.' - Anand Menon, Perspectives on Politics

About the Author(s)

John McCormick

JOHN MCCORMICK is Professor and Chair of the Department of Political Science at the Indianapolis campus of Indiana University.

Table of Contents

The Nature of Power * The Changing Transatlantic Alliance * Security Issues * Economic Issues * Political Issues * Social Issues * Explaining the Changes * Europe's New Global Role