Europa in der Weltpolitik. Juniorpartner der USA oder antihegemoniale Alternative

The authors argue that the currently debated options of a future European foreign policy towards the United States – either providing an anti-hege­monic alternative (balancing) or being Washington’s junior partner (band­wagoning) – lack both theoretical foundation and practical feasibility. In­stead, in order to be acknowledged as a major player in world politics, the EU should adopt a strategy which – in accordance with the principal-agent model – promotes Europe’s “speaking with one voice”, based on the on­going agreement of the principals on the EU’s role as a civilian power. How­ever, the Draft Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe, which has recently been presented by the European Convention, falls significantly short of the institutional reforms necessary to pursue such a strategy.