This article discusses whether the European Union （EU） has engaged in a geopolitical approach when it comes to its Eastern neighbors, now included in the EU＇s Eastern Partnership. The paper concludes that the EU ha...This article discusses whether the European Union （EU） has engaged in a geopolitical approach when it comes to its Eastern neighbors, now included in the EU＇s Eastern Partnership. The paper concludes that the EU has not engaged in a geopolitical approach when it comes to its policies towards its Eastern neighbors. Instead, it has approached them through the prisms of inter-connectedness and interdependency. The main reason for that rejection of geopolitical approach lies in the role that the EU has assigned to itself as an international actor, i.e. as a civilian and normative power. Finally, the use of civilian instruments would avoid the EU falling into a geopolitical trap that would lead to a zero sum game situation for its Eastern neighours in their relationships with Russia.展开更多
文摘This article discusses whether the European Union （EU） has engaged in a geopolitical approach when it comes to its Eastern neighbors, now included in the EU＇s Eastern Partnership. The paper concludes that the EU has not engaged in a geopolitical approach when it comes to its policies towards its Eastern neighbors. Instead, it has approached them through the prisms of inter-connectedness and interdependency. The main reason for that rejection of geopolitical approach lies in the role that the EU has assigned to itself as an international actor, i.e. as a civilian and normative power. Finally, the use of civilian instruments would avoid the EU falling into a geopolitical trap that would lead to a zero sum game situation for its Eastern neighours in their relationships with Russia.
