Order in World Politics: An Inquiry into the Concept, Change and the EU's ContributionMeasuring Trade Diversion - the Case of Russian Exports in the Advent of EU Enlargement

This paper examines how the EU as an international actor contributed to the creation and sustenance of order in world politics since the end of the Cold War. To this end, it advances an operationalization of order that takes the worldview of states and international organizations, which are regarded as key actors, as its starting point. Their ideas and beliefs on how the world works outlines the range of orders that is meaningfully possible. On the basis of this assumption order is operationalized via seven variables. Three describe the basic outlook of actors on politics, economics and governance. Four characterize the modalities of international interaction. Order during the Cold War and during the post-Cold War is analyzed using this operationalization. Main elements of continuity appear to be the continuing significance of liberal political systems with democratic governance structures that use a form of regulated capitalism to generate wealth. Main ruptures occurred with regard to the great power structure of the international system and the quality of international interaction. It is shown that the EU mainly contributes to current order in world politics by strengthening most of its currently dominant values in a non-violent and fairly consensual manner. Yet, it carries some seeds of change in order. As a region it stimulates interregional cooperation which eventually could add a category of relevant actors to world politics. In addition, the path of integration it has followed so far offers a different perspective on the notions of sovereignty, democracy, authority and power.