The Social Dimension of EU Trade Policies: Reflections from a Normative Power Perspective

This article provides some brief reflections on the ideas raised in the special issue on the social dimension of EU trade policies from a normative power (NP) perspective. A NP perspective attempts to understand and judge the ideational aspects of the EU by studying the EU’s principles, actions and impact in world politics. The article first elaborates on the role of labour rights as human rights in the EU’s external action from a NP perspective. The article then uses the NP tripartite analytical framework to examine the principles, actions and impact of the social dimension in EU trade policies found in the contributions to this special issue. Next the article asks how the EU initiatives in this area could increase the legitimacy of the ‘trade and social linkage’ in international politics and economics from a NP perspective. Finally the article concludes by suggesting a more holistic approach to the promotion of the social dimension of globalization.