The European Union's Policy Towards Pakistan: The Role of Selected External Determinants
The European Union's Policy Towards Pakistan: The Role of Selected External Determinants

Summary/Abstract: The main objective of this article is to analyse selected external determinants of the EU's policy towards Pakistan. The analysis focuses on power dynamics and the international system. Neorealism explains state behaviour primarily through the structure of the international system, especially the distribution of power. The EU's policy towards Pakistan is shaped not only by bilateral interests but also by the regional balance of power involving India, Pakistan, and China. It can be assumed that while promoting specific norms and values, the European Union must also consider structural factors, particularly the distribution of power in South Asia. The research methods used are qualitative in nature, with content analysis serving as the principal method. One of the key findings is that neorealism effectively captures how systemic pressures and regional rivalries shape the EU's foreign policy choices towards Pakistan in the context of the India-Pakistan conflict and China's growing presence in South Asia. The EU's foreign policy thus reflects systemic incentives to maintain relevance within a changing power structure, rather than being based purely on values.

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