New Zealand Elite Perceptions on the EU: A Longitudinal Analysis

Since the end of the cold war, the European Union’s (EU’s) global aspirations and capabilities have grown. This shift has seen the EU becoming an increasingly integral part of the international arena, both economically and politically. However, there has been a notable geopolitical shift in recent years towards the growing importance of Asia. New Zealand, geographically distant but traditionally culturally aligned with the EU, the nation that has traditionally enjoyed close economic, political and social relations with the EU but is increasingly focused on Asia, presents a unique perspective on this perceived realignment of power. This paper offers a unique perspective on the effectiveness of the EU’s international outreach. Using international relations’ ‘small state theory’ as an analytical tool, the paper draws on a series of longitudinal elite interviews conducted with New Zealand’s political, economic, civil society and media elites over a decade. The paper qualitatively and quantitatively assesses whether the EU remains perceived as a relevant, important global actor in the eyes of New Zealand’s elite. The paper makes a number of observations. Firstly, as a small state, New Zealand’s foreign policy focus has tended to be preoccupied with economics and this preoccupation has meant a notable shift away from Europe. Second, although over the course of the interviews negative discussions about the EU’s Common Agriculture Policy decreased, on the other hand there was increasingly less discussion about the EU’s potential and a more concerted discussion about the importance of Asia to the New Zealand’s economy and future. There are a number of reasons to account for this changing perception towards the EU,however, the internal friction currently facing the European Union and eurozone was consistently noted. Finally, although over time the interviewed elites believed that the EU’s importance is diminishing, this acknowledgement was often made with regret.