The role of the European Union in managing international conflicts: a political-strategic actor under construction

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to show the constitutive and practice evolution of the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) in the European Union and its involvement in international conflict as a way to achieve a leadership position on the world. In the first part of this work, will present the three most emblematic missions (Mission in Aceh, Rafah Mission and Mission in Darfur) under the CFSP, along with their limits of performance and effectiveness. In the second part, will be the theoretical exposition of authors such as Bull, Hill, Manners, Saraiva, Xavier and Zielonka, that will allow a reflection about the possibilities of the Union be constituted as a political-strategic international actor. Thus, this paper will analyze the EU’s participation in conflicts management in territories outside the EU, as well as, its relevance in contemporary international security system.