Changing EU role conceptions in the 21st century
Journal: Lund University Publications Student Papers (Lund University)
Year: 2017

The European Union has expanded its foreign policy significantly in recent years. It is now widely accepted as an important, albeit unique, international actor. Given the EU’s growing influence on the global scene, this study aims to describe changes in EU role conceptions between 2003 and 2016. Departing in role theory, the study constructs an analytical framework based on ideal types. Mapping EU role conceptions across two dimensions – the EU’s global role and capabilities – enables a thorough