The European Union: A Green Great Power?

Abstract

Although the European Union (EU) is often neglected in the great powers literature owing to its lack of military and security clout, we argue that the EU should nevertheless be considered a great power in global environmental politics (GEP). We develop this argument by highlighting the multiple nature and sources of power at the EU’s disposal, its ability to project power, and its recognition as a great power in GEP. By examining two distinctive cases of GEP—climate change and chemicals governance—we show that the EU relies on different sources of power and deploys its power in different ways in GEP, but that in both cases it can indeed be considered a great power. However, the EU’s negative power (responsibility) is diminishing as it becomes more successful in resolving environmental issues, which demonstrates the paradox of the EU’s role in GEP generally. Therefore, the EU relies increasingly on its positive power and its ability to persuade, incentivize, and assist others in its role as a green great power.