The European Union and Emerging Powers: Engagement, Cooperation and Contestation

Although the United States remains the leading power globally, there have been changing political equations between states since the end of the Cold War because of diffusing economic power and capabilities—which have also produced new groupings and ad hoc coalitions in world politics. This has also led to a new labelling of a group of states that have been called Emerging Powers or Rising Powers due to their growth of political, economic and military capabilities. In a world of complex interdependence what drives the European Union (EU) to engage these Emerging Powers and what characterizes the relations? This chapter examines the relations that the EU has with China and India in the context of two specific strategic documents—the European Security Strategy and the European Global Strategy—as a way to frame the understanding of the relationship and examine the potential for further engagement within these strategic partnerships.