歐盟與美國的權力關係：“柔性平衡”的適用性

"Soft Balancing" between the European Union and the United States

甘逸驊(Francis Kan)

《問題與研究》 47卷2期 (2008/06) Pp. 1-24

https://doi.org/10.30390/ISC.200806_47(2).0001

摘要

在一個以美國為首的後冷戰單極國際體系中，次級強權與美國之間的動態性權力安排，將直接影響單極體系是否得以續存。傳統國際關係理論主張「權力平衡」是維持國際社會與區域安全的穩定要素，但該理論針對的是強權間為維持軍事戰略利益，所採取以軍事力量做為手段的平衡關係對於後冷戰時期美國與其他次級強權的互動，似乎缺乏解釋的效力。在這些次級強權當中，歐洲聯盟扮演一個非常特殊的角色。歐洲與美國同享重要的文化與宗教價值，但在具戰略意義的議題上，兩者的歧見卻益形明顯。歐盟在重大國際議題上與美國的背道而馳，已形成對於此一超強的抗衡作用，但是傳統強調軍事力量的「硬性平衡」概念，無法有效解釋歐盟所發揮以軍事以外手段進行對美國的平衡。本文試圖提出「柔性平街」的相對概念，亦即次級強權試圖以軍事力量以外的手段，獲致抗衡超弦達成其戰略利益的目的，並以此來檢驗歐洲與美國在後冷戰時期的關係，是否存在系統性的柔性平街。本文首先強調傳統權力平衡理論在解釋後冷戰時期單極體系的不足，並提出以柔性平衡的論述做為補充：在實際的個案方面。本文特別著重在歐洲聯盟於後冷戰時期與美國在重要國際議題上的歧異，並因此檢驗是否形成對美國的柔性平衡策略：本文在結論部分，除了試圖在理論的層次，提出柔性平衡對於權力平街理論的適用與補充之外，也期待在政策方面，提出次級強權的個別或聯盟可能藉由柔性平街方式，產生對於新時期國際體系可能轉換的影響。

關鍵字

歐洲聯盟 ； 權力平衡 ； 柔性平衡 ； 歐美美歐關係 ； 多邊主義

並列摘要

In a U.S-dominated post-Cold War unipolar international system, the possible power shifts between the second-tier great powers and the Americans, such as a systemic balance, will have great impacts on the existence and endurance of the current international system. According to the Realist theses, ”balance of power” is a stabilizing factor that contributes to international security and regional stability as the great powers endeavor to prevent concentration of capabilities in one or a few nations through the process of distribution of power. However, it seems questionable when the conventional ”balance of power” thesis, focusing exclusively on military balancing as a means to maintain military and strategic interests among the great powers. is applied to the interrelationship between the U.S. and its junior counterparts in the post-Cold War era. Among the post-Cold War second-tier great powers, the European Union plays a very special role. Despite the fact that the Europeans share key cultural and religious values with the Americans, the EU has gradually developed its own global strategic status by expanding the multiple dimensions of power, including its adherence to multilateralism that places the EU in opposition to the U.S. when dealing with crucial global affairs. While the Europeans might place is harmony with the Americans on some global issues in the Cold War era, their differences over major disputes appear much mole unbridgeable than ever before. The fact that the EU and the U.S. have heart divergent or key international issues indicates that some form of balance may he emerging. Yet, the conventional ”hard balancing” theory cannot explain the non-military balancing exercised by the EU vis-à-vis the U.S. This article attempts to propose the ”soft balancing” thesis, referring to a means used by the second-tier great powers that take non-military measures to achieve strategic interests by balancing the super power. The paper's main purpose is to examine relations between the EU and the U.S. in the post-Cold War era in order to understand whether a soft balancing relationship between the two exists. This article begins by discussing the major theses proposed by the Realist ”balance of power” theory, followed by the counter-proposal of ”soft balancing” put forward in the post-Cold War era. It then examines some key international issues where the EU and the U.S. have had divergent positions, with an aim at finding the pattern of EU's soft balancing vis-à-vis the U.S. The article concludes by proposing the applicability of the ”soft balancing” thesis on the theoretic level, as well as its implications for policy-making concerning the impacts that the emerging soft balancing in an individual or a collective manner would have on the international system as a whole.

並列關鍵字

European Union ； balance of power ； soft balancing ； Euro-American relations ； multilateralism

參考文獻

張嘉斌(2007)。論歐洲安全暨防衛政策非軍事工具之建構與發展。歐洲國際評論。3，45-74。

門洪華(2006)。美國霸權與國際秩序：一項歷史分析。遠景基金會季刊。7(3)，37-73。

陳欣之(2006)。單極趙系的形成、維繫與轉換。問題與研究。45(2)，111-140。

楊三億(2002)。後冷戰時期中、東歐地區區力結構分析。問題與研究。41(2)，89-103。

Arreguin-Toft, Ivan(2001).How the Weak Win Wars: A Theory of Asymmetric Conflict.International Security.26(1),93-128.