Ethics as foreign policy : Britain, the EU and the other / Dan Bulley.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Bulley, Dan.

Series:

Interventions.

Interventions

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

International relations.

Great Britain--Foreign relations--1997---Moral and ethical aspects.

Great Britain.

European Union countries--Foreign relations--Moral and ethical aspects.

European Union countries.

Physical Description:

x, 174 pages ; 25 cm.

Place of Publication:

London ; New York : Routledge, 2009.

Summary:

Ethical foreign policy has often been considered utopian, unrealistic and potentially very dangerous. Dan Bulley argues for a reconceptualisation of ethics as foreign policy, as both look to how we can, and ought to, relate to others.

Inspired by the deconstructive thought of Jacques Derrida, Bulley studies the ethical claims of British (1997-2007) and EU (1999-2004) foreign policy. These claims are read against themselves to illustrate their deep ambiguity. A textual analysis of speeches, statements and interviews given by foreign policy makers shows that a responsibility to save 'Africa', to protect Iraqis, and to hospitably welcome the Balkans into the EU is also irresponsible, inhospitable and unethical.

The author contends that foreign policies making a claim to morality are ethical and unethical, in their own terms, suggesting that while a truly ethical foreign policy remains ultimately unachievable, it does not justify abandoning a responsible relation to others. Rather, a negotiation of ethics as foreign policy suggests potential individual, context-bound decisions which remain open to contestation and permanent critique. Bulley argues that the goal of ethical foreign policy must be maintained as a productive hope of what is neither completely impossible nor entirely possible.

Contents:

1 Introduction 1

2 The subject of ethical foreign policy: 'Britain', the 'EU' and others 15

3 Responsibility: Protecting and saving the other in British and EU foreign policy 36

4 Hospitality: Welcoming the other in EU foreign policy 61

5 Negotiating undecidability: Ethics, politics and the perhaps 81

6 Conclusion 112.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages [122]-166) and index.

ISBN:

9780415483612

0415483611

9780203878859

020387885X

OCLC:

237880581