The article suggests an exegesis of the conceptual texture of the EUGS. By focusing on the two disruptive concepts that have come forward in the document - principled pragmatism and resilience – it aims at unveiling the new role the EUGS allocates to the EU. This recalls the Socratic ‘maieutic power’, blending the cognitive, aspirational and performative aspects suggested by principled pragmatism and resilience. Instead of spreading norms, the EU would rather engage selectively in a wider space, pragmatically supporting the others becoming resilient. While recognising local agency and disowning the ‘one size fits all’ principle, this new role still legitimates the EU to influence the outside, although not structurally. This shift tends to de-politicise external actions, with the risk of obfuscating the question of accountability and responsibility.
The European Union Global Strategy and the EU's Maieutic Role
serena giusti
2020-01-01
Abstract
The article suggests an exegesis of the conceptual texture of the EUGS. By focusing on the two disruptive concepts that have come forward in the document - principled pragmatism and resilience – it aims at unveiling the new role the EUGS allocates to the EU. This recalls the Socratic ‘maieutic power’, blending the cognitive, aspirational and performative aspects suggested by principled pragmatism and resilience. Instead of spreading norms, the EU would rather engage selectively in a wider space, pragmatically supporting the others becoming resilient. While recognising local agency and disowning the ‘one size fits all’ principle, this new role still legitimates the EU to influence the outside, although not structurally. This shift tends to de-politicise external actions, with the risk of obfuscating the question of accountability and responsibility.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
