^aUCD School of Politics and International Relations, Newman Bldg G310, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland

Correspondence: Daniel C Thomas, E-mail: daniel.thomas@ucd.ie

Abstract

This paper presents the special issue as a systematic attempt to understand why and when Member States succeed or fail in negotiating common policies for the world stage. It highlights the European Union's (EU's) lack of automatic unity in world affairs, and focuses on the process by which Member States negotiate their differences in the quest for common policies. The subject and conclusions of the various case studies are presented.