European Union and the Great Powers

The study of European Union’s role in the new international system depends on some factors which without considering them it would be impossible to understand the EU’s main role in the world. Recent developments in the international society, especially economic crises, have fairly challenged the order that The United States is trying to lead. Until the end of the Cold War, The European Union had been trying to play a more significant role in international politics; however, the bipolar international system and the dominance of The United States did not leave any opportunity for The European Union to do so. With the end of the Cold War, this situation changed dramatically. In this era, the main goal of the European Union has been to support multilateralism and to take more responsibility in international issues. In this regard, the relation of the European Union with The United States, Russia, and China is also of great significance. This article will focus on the role of the European Union in the new international system and will also analyzethe EU’s relation with the mentioned powers.