Europe's Political Economy Leadership and the Confrontation with US Diplomacy regarding Climate Changes: the Duality of Realistic and Liberalistic Viewpoints

Realists have interpreted the Euro-American debates on climate change policies simply as hegemonic competition and challenge. According to them the US regards multi-lateral development as unnecessary, because the US believes that by taking a unilateral decision it can be imposed on others in a hegemonic way. This article shows how Europe has asserted its leadership in this regard; however the US can have recourse to its crude oil supplies and its right of veto. The main question here is, can a solely realistic view help us explain the hegemony of the US in the leadership of climate change diplomacy? This article argues that the pressure of the US on Europe cannot make the Euro-American diplomatic maneuver take a different direction. In fact, from a liberalistic viewpoint, especially the “mutual dependence” theory, we can claim that the European Union can play its trump cards to figure prominently in developing climate change policies.