This year’s edition of the Elcano Global Presence Index ranks 80 countries according to the extent to which they are currently ‘out there’, participating in and shaping the process of globalization. Given that this index reflects mainly structural trends rather than short-term events, it comes as no surprise that there are virtually no changes within the top 10 positions of the 2014 ranking in relation to the previous year. The only relevant change is that the United Kingdom climbs one position to claim 2nd place, leaving Germany in 3rd. As a result, the new top 5 starts with the United States (leading the ranking since 1990), followed by the United Kingdom, Germany, China, and France. It should be noted, however, that the up-scaling of the British position responds in large part to a massive sale of gold to Switzerland in 2013; probably a one-time event, and one that might be insufficient for holding the country at its current position in future editions of the index.
The report also contains the contributions of Miguel Otero-Iglesias, Mario Esteban and Ángel Badillo, all of them Senior Analysts at the Elcano Royal Institute.
Contents:
1. Slower globalization and a re-concentration of global presence. Iliana Olivié and Manuel Gracia.
2. From global to local: the architecture of the European Union’s external projection. Iliana Olivié and Manuel Gracia.
3. Europe’s global economic presence vis-à-vis the emerging markets. Miguel Otero Iglesias.
4. The role of Asia in globalization: much more than just China and economics. Mario Esteban.
5. A comparative anañysis of foreign-policy strategies and global presence: the cases of Australia and South Africa. Carola García-Calvo.
6. Measuring soft presence through news wire services. Ángel Badillo y Manuel Gracia.
7. Methodological annex.
Also available: Informe Elcano de Presencia Global 2015 (Spanish version).
