European Diplomacy Practices post-Lisbon: Adding Value through Cooperation

ended

“European Diplomacy Practices post-Lisbon: Adding Value through Cooperation” (EuroDipl) aims to assess the impact and significance of new European diplomatic practices in third countries between the EU and its member states after the ratification of the Lisbon Treaty (2009). It asks how, if at all, increased European cooperation in third countries has impacted European foreign policy-making. In doing so, the project seeks to suggest ways in which the the effectiveness and legitimacy of the emergent European diplomatic system might be strengthened, especially in times when changing strategic and geopolitical contexts challenge Europe’s role in the world. The EuroDipl objectives are to 1. contribute to the conceptual, theoretical and methodological innovation in studies of European diplomatic practice, 2. explain the impact of post-Lisbon European diplomatic practice on European foreign policy, and 3. improve the cross-fertilization between policy practice and academic research. Those objectives will be achieved through a mixed-methods approach that combines a mapping of diplomatic practices via a quantitative social network analysis (WP1) with a qualitative comparative case study design to investigate the impact of European diplomatic practices (WP2). These research activities will be enriched by regular policy influence and public engagement activities (WP3) and training (WP4). EuroDipl offers an innovation to the study of European diplomatic cooperation and best practices in bringing research and practice together. It advances the career of the researcher through professionalisation (data management, communication strategy, project management) and methodological training. The University of Bristol and its School of Sociology, Politics and International Studies (SPAIS), due to their experience in postdoctoral hosting and project management, and the supervision by Dr. Juncos and other SPAIS academics provide an excellent and stimulating environment for this project.