Serena
Kelly
Post-doctoral Teaching Fellow
PhD (European Studies) Thesis Topic
The European Union in the Asia-Pacific: Current Representations and the Potential Impact of the EEAS
Positions
- Post-graduate and undergraduate course coordinator
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Project coordinator, trainer and researcher for the perceptions project, ‘After Lisbon: The EU as an Exporter of Values and Norms through ASEM’
This is a collaborative project which studies perceptions of the EU in the print media, TV news, local elites and public opinion. It involves researchers from Australia, India, Japan, Mainland China, Malaysia, New Zealand, Russia, Singapore South Korea and Thailand. For more information go to www.euperceptions.canterbury.ac.nz
Qualifications
- PhD, European Studies, National Centre for Research on Europe, University of Canterbury
- BA with First Class Honours, Political Science and Sociology with European Studies, University of Canterbury
Courses
Undergraduate:
Course coordinator and lecturer in Euro 101: Introduction to the European Union
Guest lectures in:
Euro 102: The European Union in our Region
Euro 201: European Union Identity and Culture
Laws 338/Euro 333: European Public Law
EURO 318 The EU in the Asia-Pacific
Postgraduate:
Guest Lectures in
Euro 401: The Idea of Europe
EUCN Weekend school
PhD Information:
The European Union in the Asia-Pacific: Current Representations and the Potential Impact of the EEAS
The European Union (EU) has been called an experiment in a world system traditionally dominated by nation states and the use of military coercion. Because of its uniqueness, academics have sought new theories in order to understand it. This thesis draws on two of these theories in order to gain an understanding about the driving force behind the proposed European External Action Service (EEAS); the so-called ‘expectations-capabilities gap’ and Normative Power Europe (NPE). The former is agency-centred and draws on understandings about the capability of the EU as an international actor and the impact of both internal and external expectations placed on it, that it does not necessarily have the means to live up to. The latter theory –NPE- is identity centred, and concerns how the EU is understood with a focus on norms and values which it wishes to export to the rest of the world. One of the connecting themes of the two theories is a stress on the need to have effective communication.
Using both a qualitative and quantitative methodology, this thesis aims to understand how the EU is currently represented in the Asia-Pacific and the potential of the EEAS to improve this representation. Ultimately, there are three findings for this thesis. Firstly, how the EU sees itself and its role in the world does not necessarily correlate with outsiders’ perceptions of it. Secondly, part of the confusion and ineffectiveness of the EU to be recognised could be directly related to its confusing multi-representation in third countries. Finally, the EEAS has the ability to greatly improve the way the EU operates and communicates, thus potentially narrowing the ‘expectations-capabilities gap’ as well as improving the capability of the EU to be a normative power. However, the vagueness of the EEAS proposals means that steps must be taken to ensure that the EEAS is supported by the other EU actors who will be affected by the new system, as well as ensuring that the proposals are effective in carrying out the goals that it has set out to achieve. This is important if the EU aims to be taken more seriously as an international actor and is to be a force for good in the world. However, caution must be taken against building up the expectations placed on the EEAS too much – history demonstrates that it would be foolish to market the EEAS as a panacea for all of the EU’s problems.
Conferences and Presentations
Presentation at workshop for Maastricht University: The EU Maastricht University Diplomatic System after Lisbon: Institutions Matter. Presentation title: ‘The EEAS: Perspectives from the EU Asia-Pacific diplomatic community, November 2010
Presentation at the EUCN conference: European Integration at 60: Progress, Problems, Perspectives’. Presentation title: ‘Great Expectations? Perspectives from the EU Asia-Pacific’ on the Lisbon Treaty’, December 2010
Presentation at the Conference: The External Relations of European Union: Historical and Contemporary Perspectives ‘The EU in New Zealand and Singapore: a Normative Power?’ Monash University, Melbourne, Australia, September 2009.
Presentation at the EUCN Conference, European Commission Delegations and EU Public Policy: Stakeholders’ perceptions from the Asia-Pacific, Christchurch, NZ, September 2008.
Meeting on the findings of the project: “Perceptions of the European Union as a Development Actor: a comparative analysis of media representations, public opinion and practitioner views in the Pacific, South East Asia and Southern African regions”, The Asia-Europe Foundation, Singapore, November 2007
Presentation at the EUCN Conference 2007: European Integration @ 50: Assessing the Past, Present and Future ‘A Necessary Change? Recent Developments in EU Foreign Policy’, Dunedin, New Zealand, 2007.
Presentation to the Jiangxi Economic Integration & Government Administration Training Programme, on ‘European Economic Integration’ October, 2007
Presentation of preliminary findings on the images of the European Union in the Pacific, The Asia-Europe Foundation, Singapore, March 2007.
Presentation at the EUCN Conference: Knowledge, Identities and Governance, challenges for contemporary Europe ‘Perceptions of European Union Member State Diplomats: The Potential Impact of the EEAS in New Zealand’, Auckland University, NZ, November 2006.
Presentation at the NZ Political Studies Association Conference on ‘The Potential impact of the European External Action Service on the role of European Union’, University of Canterbury, NZ, August 2006.
European Community Studies Association Conference, Brussels, Belgium, 2004.
Recent Publications
Kelly, Serena (2010). 'Clutching at the apron strings? New Zealand’s relationship with the EU and the possible consequences for ASEM' Asia-Europe Journal Volume 8, pp. 212-226.
Chaban, Natalia, Kelly, Serena and Bain, Jessica (2009). ‘European Commission Delegations and EU Public Policy: Stakeholders’ Perceptions from the Asia-Pacific’ European Foreign Affairs Review Volume 14, pp.271–288.
Kelly, Serena (2008). ‘Perceptions of European Union Member State Diplomats: The Potential Impact of the EEAS in New Zealand’, inMayes, David, The Varieties of Linguistic, Religious, and Geographical Identities in Europe: Essays on the Problem of European Unification , Edwin Mellen Press, Lewiston, New York
Awards
- NCRE and EUCN PhD study scholarships (2005 – 2009)
- Conference travel award from New Zealand Federation of Post Graduate Women (2009)
- Travel scholarship from New Zealand Postgraduate Study Abroad Award to undertake research in Asia (2007)
- EUCN Conference, best student presentation (2007)
- Jean Monnet mobility award to undertake research in Europe (2006)
- EUCN Conference, highly commended student presentation (2006)
- NCRE honours degree study scholarship (2004)
- New Zealand Post, American Field Services scholarship to study in Germany for one year (1998)
Office
Kirkwood Village KD04
Contact
Phone: +64 3 364 2987 ext 4911
Fax: +64 3 364 2634
serena.kelly@canterbury.ac.nz
Postal address:
National Centre for Research on Europe
Kirkwood Village KD04
University of Canterbury
Private Bag 4800
Christchurch
New Zealand