The Power of ’Normative Power Europe’ Discourse

Vukasović, Dejana M. and Matić, Petar (2019) The Power of ’Normative Power Europe’ Discourse. In: Discourse and Politics. Institute for Political Studies, Belgrade, pp. 291-310. ISBN 978-86-7419-308-2

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Abstract

The article aims to analyze the concept of the EU as a normative power. In this regard, the article explores the concept of Normative Power Europe (NPE) introduced by Ian Manners. The intention is not to debate on whether the EU is a normative power acting in accordance with its norms, or whether it is an actor that acts strategically in pursuit of its interests, i.e., to debate on constructivist vs. realist/ rationalist dispute in international relations. Instead, this paper is focused on the discursive representation of the EU as a normative power. It seeks to analyse the power of the discursive construction of the EU identity as a normative power with the ability to shape conceptions of "normal" in international relations and with the power to legitimise its actions in international politics. Through the example of the relationship between the EU and the Western Balkans, the paper concludes that the normative power identity discourse establishes a distinctive EU identity by turning parties into „others“ and by representing the EU as a „force for good“ in international relations.

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