What role, if any, does the foreign ministry perform in contemporary world politics? Is the argument that it is in a state of terminal decline accurate or rooted in only partial understandings of its changing character? Foreign Ministries in the European Union explores this theme in the context of the EU where foreign ministry has played a key role in the development of integration but where its role is increasingly questioned. The contributors examine the foreign ministry in thirteen member states and draw conclusions that challenge some conventional wisdoms.
'This is an indispensable book for the material it provides on both foreign ministries and national foreign policies. Most of the country-studies contain statistical details on the extent of national diplomatic services and the number of missions - data surprisingly difficult to put one's hands on quickly.' - Christopher Hill, London School of Economics and Political Science, International Affairs
List of Tables and Figures
Contributors
Acknowledgements
Abbreviations
Introduction: Gatekeepers and Boundary Spanners: Thinking about Foreign Ministries in the European Union; B.Hocking
The Evolving Role of Foreign Ministries in the European Union: The Conduct of European Affairs; D.Spence
Austria; H.Neuhold
Belgium; R.Coolsaet & A-S.Voet
Denmark; K.E.Jørgensen
Finland; E.Antola
France; M.Morisse-Schilbach
Germany; E.Regelsberger
United Kingdom; D.Allen
Ireland; B.Tonra
Italy; M.Zucconi
Netherlands; D.Hellema
Portugal; J.Correia
Spain; I.Molina & F.Rodrigo
Sweden; B.Sundelius & M.Ekengren
Conclusion; B.Hocking & D.Spence
Afterword: Towards a European Diplomatic System?; B.Hocking & D.Spence
BRIAN HOCKING is Professor of International Relations at Coventry University and has previously taught in Australia, North America and Europe. His research interests focus on the interaction between domestic and international forces in the conduct of foreign and foreign economic policy. Publications include Localizing Foreign Policy: Non-Central Governments and Multilayered Diplomacy; Beyond Foreign Economic Policy: The United States and the Single European Market (with M.H. Smith); and Foreign Ministries: Change and Adaptation.
DAVID SPENCE is Special Advisor to the European Commission for European Security and Defence Policy and Counter-terrorism and he was previously head of the Commission task force for German unification and head of diplomatic training for staff in Commission delegations abroad. Mr Spence has taught at the Sorbonne and has studied in Germany, France and the UK. He is author of several articles on European affairs and co-author (with Geoffrey Edwards) of The European Commission.