Normative Foreign Policy and Transatlantic Relationship

ABSTRACT: Both, the European Union and the United States seem to have adopted certain norms and values in their foreign policy decision making. This thesis examines the application of these norms and values in the foreign policy decision making of both the EU and the US by making a comprehensive study of cases where claims to their neglect of such norms and values have been made. On the EU‟s side, the decisions made in regards of the Chechen conflict and its stance on Syria whilst on the American side its normative stance shall be reviewed together with its perceived hegemonic role in different cases. The U.S. invasion of Iraq in 2003 shall be examined to picture how this combination of Norms/Hegemonic Role affects the decision making of the United States. This thesis aims to answer the question of how has the adoption of the normative foreign policy by the EU and the US affected their mutual transatlantic relations? Whether the decisions made by these actors have indeed been normatively compliant with their perceived normative identity? Keywords: Normative power, Normative Goals, Normative Means, Normative Impacts, EU‟s foreign policy, US foreign policy, Transatlantic relationship. …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………