This book investigates how specific normative values and foundational principles shape the external actions and global identity of the European Union. The authors, Ian Manners and Sonia Lucarelli, utilize a constructivist framework to analyze the intersection of internal EU policy-making and external diplomatic behavior. By examining the rhetoric and implementation of these values, the text argues that the EU functions as a distinct international actor whose identity is inextricably linked to its stated normative commitments.

Experts in European studies frequently cite this work as a foundational text for understanding the normative dimensions of EU foreign policy. Readers often note the academic density of the prose, which makes it a standard reference for graduate-level research in international relations.