The Asian continent becomes more and more important in world politics. In Asia the future markets are located; the labour force is compared to western economies cheap but in the same way well educated and qualified. But probably one of the most important aspects are resources. The energy resources of the future are located on the Eurasian Continent, especially in Central Asia, North Russia and Arab countries. Asian states, in particular China and India will be under the most important global players. Their rapidly economic growth which leads probably in the same way to an increasing military power, makes them rather important which is underlined by India’s claim for a permanent seat in the UN Security Council. The Eurasian continent is full of challenges. First; Asian states are competitors on the world markets, but in the same way necessary exporting and investment partners for the west. Second; the Asian continent is a flash point of present and future conflicts which is caused by a huge lack of water resources, an extended diversity of ethnic groups and the competition of power and control over oil, gas and water resources and therefore the control over regions or countries in which the resources are located. Moreover several Asian states as India or Iran have nuclear capability which causes concerns and conflicts as the contemporary debates about Iran show. The following paper analyzes the document “Europe and Asia: A strategic Framework for Enhanced Partnerships” of the Commission of the European Communities in 2001. This document is a strategy paper which gives an overview how the European Union wants to improve and strengthen its presence in different regions of Asia. First I will give a short overview about the document, its strategies and the problems in the realization of strategies. Further the essay contains an analyze about geopolitics. At last I will compare the EU and USA, relating to their politics in Asia.
Table of Contents
1 Introduction
2 The Document
3 The Strategy
4 The Problem of the Strategy
5 Geopolitics of the European Union
6 The EU and USA in a comparing perspective
7 Conclusion
8 Bibliography
Research Objectives and Themes
This essay examines the strategic framework of the European Union regarding its engagement with the Asian continent, specifically analyzing the 2001 document "Europe and Asia: A Strategic Framework for Enhanced Partnerships" while contrasting the EU's cooperative approach with the geopolitical influence exerted by the United States.
- Analysis of the EU's strategic communication on Asia-Pacific relations.
- Evaluation of the limitations of the EU's Common Foreign and Security Policy.
- Comparison of EU and US geopolitical strategies in the Eurasian space.
- The role of energy security and resource competition in international relations.
- Geopolitical implications of EU enlargement for its role as a global actor.
Excerpt from the Book
The Strategy
The strategy concerning strengthened relations to Asian countries is dominated by economic, social, development and security and peace aspects, but not by geopolitical questions. Relating to this aims the paper stresses six issues on which the EU should work. First the EU is interested to contribute to peace and security in the region and globally. According to the document this should happen especially in-between the framework of international cooperation and coordination for example through and in the UN.
The second important field is the economy. The EU is very interested in strengthening the economic relations with Asia. Asian countries are important trade partners. Asia is the third biggest trading partner with 21 percent of total EU exports. Another reason is that in Asia the future markets are located and it reaches an increasing economic position. It is also mentioned that energy resources will play an important role in the economic sector. The EU supports therefore intensified mutual trade and investment flows.
As the third point the paper stresses the importance of development and poverty reduction. Get rid of poverty means in the same way that environmental problems could be reduced. What is not mentioned in the document; reducing poverty is probably related to more stability and peace. The EU provides specifically humanitarian aid to Afghanistan, Cambodia, India and South-East Asia; at all it is about 13 percent of the EU world wide humanitarian assistance. Which is not that much, compared to the fact that Asia has two third of the world poorest population.
Summary of Chapters
1 Introduction: Provides an overview of the increasing geopolitical and economic importance of the Asian continent and outlines the scope of the essay.
2 The Document: Analyzes the 2001 strategy paper from the European Commission as a successor to earlier policies regarding Asia.
3 The Strategy: Details the six core pillars of the EU's approach, focusing on economic cooperation, peace, development, and democratic standards.
4 The Problem of the Strategy: Discusses the inherent weaknesses of the EU as a fragmented actor due to the lack of a unified foreign and security policy.
5 Geopolitics of the European Union: Explores the EU's geopolitical footprint, emphasizing the impact of enlargement and the potential role of Turkey.
6 The EU and USA in a comparing perspective: Contrasts the cooperative, multilateral model of the EU with the more unilateral and resource-driven approach of the United States.
7 Conclusion: Summarizes the findings and suggests that the EU needs more unified policies and robust research to increase its influence in Asia.
8 Bibliography: Lists the primary source documents and internet references used in the research.
Keywords
European Union, Asia, Eurasia, Geopolitics, Strategy, Foreign Policy, Security Policy, Globalization, Economic Relations, Energy Resources, Multilateralism, International Relations, Development, Trade, Resource Competition
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the central focus of this research paper?
The paper focuses on the European Union's strategic framework for enhancing partnerships with Asian countries, as outlined in the Commission's 2001 document.
What are the primary themes discussed in the work?
The work covers economic cooperation, security, poverty reduction, the role of human rights, and the geopolitical competition for natural resources in Eurasia.
What is the main research objective of the author?
The objective is to analyze how the EU attempts to strengthen its presence in Asia and to identify the challenges it faces, particularly in contrast to the United States.
What scientific methodology is utilized?
The author employs a document analysis method, evaluating the EU's 2001 strategy paper and comparing it against geopolitical realities and US foreign policy behavior.
What is the core content of the main body?
The main body examines the specific pillars of the EU strategy, critiques the lack of a unified European security policy, and contrasts the EU's cooperative approach with US influence.
Which keywords best describe this study?
Key terms include European Union, Eurasia, Geopolitics, Foreign Policy, Economic Relations, and Strategy.
Why does the author consider the lack of a common foreign policy a "big problem"?
The author argues that without a unified voice, individual member state interests often supersede collective EU goals, rendering the EU less effective in high-level geopolitical power plays.
How does the author evaluate the EU's role in Central Asia?
The author observes that Central Asia is largely absent from the EU's strategy, despite the region being a critical flash point for resource control and global power influence.
In what way does the EU's approach differ from the US approach regarding Asia?
The EU favors a cooperative, multilateral model integrated within international systems like the UN, whereas the US is described as more unilateral and aggressive in securing its strategic interests.
- Quote paper
- Sarah Stolle (Author), 2006, The European Union in the Eurasian Space, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/60553
