Thesis Abstract: Framing the European Union: An Australian Case Study of the European Union's Image Abroad

摘要

Contributing to a broader study of Asia Pacific perceptions of the European Union (EU), this thesis constructs a comprehensive case study of the way in which the EU is represented and perceived in the official, public, elite and media discourses of one of its external partners - Australia.rnOfficial perceptions of the EU and attitudes towards the EU-Australia relationship were assessed through the analysis of key government documents and speeches, highlighting a curious discrepancy between the EU's actual and perceived importance for Australia. Despite the clear consequence for the national interest and its increasingly integrated nature, there is demonstrable reluctance on the part of the Australian government to recognise it as a significant and cohesive international actor and partner for Australia, and to pursue the relationship on this basis.