Abstract
The EU, which is commonly referred as a soft power, is facing various challenges that limit its effectiveness in the international scene, most importantly in the Western Balkans. The transformative capacity of its soft power is not properly utilized in this region. This article explores the challenges to the EU’s soft power and evaluates possible ways for the Union to maintain its effectiveness adding new dimensions to its foreign policy in the area–specifically in the Western Balkans region. The primary issue addressed by this article deals with the immediate changes facing the EU as a soft power today. Given the fact that political mechanisms that EU has utilized have proved to be ineffective in promoting stability, democracy peace in its area, alternatives should be considered. Meanwhile, a decade ago Turkey has proven its capacity to influence Western Balkan countries by creating and consolidating its soft power through various ways. However under the most present circumstances an economically weak Turkey is nothing but an actor which attempts to strengthen its relationship with Western Balkans countries
Highlights
In the last decade, the EU has developed into a more capable actor in international relations, managing a plethora of problems emerging on its periphery
The EU, which is commonly referred as a soft power, is facing various challenges that limit its effectiveness in the international scene, most importantly in the Western Balkans
Under the most present circumstances an economically weak Turkey is nothing but an actor which attempts to strengthen its relationship with Western Balkans countries
Summary
The EU has developed into a more capable actor in international relations, managing a plethora of problems emerging on its periphery. Subsequent shifts in global-scale division of financial assets and increasing trade volume in the Asian continent indicate a transformation of the world’s financial center On this basis, finalizing the EU-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) on December 8, 2017 could be interpreted as the EU’s attempt at revising foreign-policy regarding Asia Pacific region. In addition to shrinking financial resources and shifting world politics, the EU is incapable of wielding hard power alternatives on the international stage While it struggles to obtain economic resources during times of crisis, the EU is not a military actor; it remains under NATO’s collective defense guarantee. Having outlined the immediate challenges to EU’s “soft power”, it is time to evaluate its track record far by looking at the two most important soft power instruments in its toolbox - CSDP missions and EU membership conditionality
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