The Normative Structure of the EU Foreign Policy â€" A Two-Level Game Approach.

This paper offers a two-level game approach to explain the normative character of the EU’s CFSP. Analyzing the role of democracy and human rights values in the second pillar, it identifies three causal factors that shape the normatively driven policy-making:.x000d.On the supply side, first,under the unanimous voting setting, the final outcomes reflect either a lowest common denominator according to which the idealized and commonly accepted norms would generate little resistance, or a ‘creative ambiguity’, a deliberately designed strategy by member states with vaguely stated foreign policy objectives which members can and do interpret differently when they have to act. Second, the high number of veto points, by decreasing issue ownership and spreading responsibility hinder any effort to define concrete interests or possession goals from normatively driven milieu goals..x000d.On the demand side,high levels of domestic support for common foreign policy lead political leaders to give broad promises and set objectives that conform to the preferences of their constituencies such as protecting human rights. The potential benefits stemming from higher domestic support both for the governmental parties and the EU integration easily offset the costs. ..PAT.-Unpublished Manuscript [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]