Comparing Three Sets of Multilateral Negotiations

Abstract

This chapter introduces the cases chosen. It explains why it is interesting to study the Union’s external policies, instead of looking at the European Union’s (EU) Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP), which is the focus of attention of most EU foreign policy researchers. In a similar vein, it argues the continued relevance of looking at multilateral institutions and the outcomes of negotiations taking place within them, despite them being subject to severe criticism lately. It will briefly touch upon the choice of research design, limitations following from it and the generalisability of research findings.