An excellent collection of essays that illustrate how EU member states wish to implement normatively inspired policies is confronted with the geopolitical realities of todays world. The authors succeed in presenting an even-handed account of the way in which the tensions between norms and geopolitics play out, as well as of the responses given by EU policy makers.
Wil Hout, International Institute of Social Studies, Erasmus University, the Netherlands

The European Union (EU), while collectively constituting the worlds largest development provider, has come under internal and external pressures over the past decade. This book argues that the EUs development policies are situated between the blocs normative ideals and the global geopolitical realities in which it is embedded. In order to investigate these tensions, it asks how far the 'normative power' Europe concept exists in EU development policies, and how far it is recognizable in the EUs focus on human rights, the rule of law, and sustainability. In light of the tension in EU development policies between those ideals and the necessity to project neoliberal and geopolitical interests, how do receiving countries perceive the EUs development efforts? This volume, complete with contributions from academics from a wide range of disciplines based all around the globe, provides answers to these essential questions.

Sarah L. Beringer is Research Coordinator at the German Historical Institute, Washington D.C., USA. Her research focuses on issues in International Political Economy, particularly on transnational aspects involving the EU, the USA, and emerging economies.

Sylvia Maier is Clinical Associate Professor and directs the Concentration in Global Gender Studies at the Center for Global Affairs at New York University, USA. Her research focuses on womens rights, education, and the globalization-empowerment nexus in the Middle East, Gulf States, and Afghanistan.

Markus Thiel is Associate Professor of Politics and International Relations, and directs the Jean Monnet Center of Excellence and the European and Eurasian Studies Program at Florida International University, USA. His research centers on Identity Politics and Human Rights policies in the EU.   

Chapter 1: Introduction.- Chapter 2: Energy, Climate Change and EU Development Policy.-Chapter 3: Theorizing the EUs International Promotion of LGBTI Rights Policies in the Global South.- Chapter 4: The Biodiversity for Life (B4L) Flagship Initiative: The EU, Africa, and Biodiversity Conservation.- Chapter 5: European Involvement in Chinas Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank: Geopolitical Pragmatism or Normative Engagement?.- Chapter 6: Sino-Indian Relations and EU Development Policies in Post-Conflict Nepal.- Chapter 7: New Directions in European Union-Africa Development Initiatives.- Chapter 8: The EU, CARIFORUM, and CELAC: A New Development Alliance?.- Chapter 9: The Peru-EU Free Trade Agreement: An Obstacle or an Opportunity for Perus Further Sustainable Development?.- Chapter 10: Spains Role in the EUs Development Cooperation Agreement with CubaJoaquin Roy.- Chapter 11: Conclusion.