The European Union’s Normative Power in a Multipolar World

This paper reappraises Normative Power Europe theory in light of the possible changes that a future multipolar order may bring about. If – and 'if' should still be stressed at present – the world is heading towards multipolarity between states such as the US, China, India and Brazil and entities such as the EU what consequences will this have for NPE theory? If the 'rules' of this multipolar order are set to be cast in “Westphalian” terms, does this necessarily preclude the EU from participating in such an order? If the EU is not to play by these 'rules', is NPE robust enough to weather the storms that will potentially gather with the ascendency of states with no automatic loyalty to traditional Western economic and political norms? If it is willing to play by these 'rules', will this pressure the EU into a serious rethink not just on its strategy but on the tools it will require to secure its position in a multipolar world?