Dimensions and Mechanisms of the Europeanization of Member State Foreign Policy: State of the Art and New Research Avenues

Abstract

The concept of Europeanization is relevant also to the foreign policy realm, as it facilitates an exploration of the distinctiveness of the foreign policies of states which are members of the European Union (EU). Reviewing the state of the art in the Europeanization of foreign policy, this article illustrates that the concept of Europeanization, albeit in a refined form, is a useful tool for examining the complex interactions and linkages between the EU and national levels in European foreign policy-making. Considering policy-learning and socialization as key mechanisms that drive the Europeanization of foreign policy in both its uploading and its downloading dimensions, this article provides a further clarification of how the Europeanization of foreign policy works and can be analyzed. It highlights particularly interesting avenues for future research by elaborating on important issues such as operationalization and the scope conditions for learning and socialization.