Since his election as the President of Ukraine in 2019, Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s Russia policy has been driven by his campaign […]
Read more
Category: EU External Relations & Global Politics
“The EU as a Soft Power Superpower: Why a Green Marshall Plan for the Sahel Is Imperative”, Friso Stevens and Dorith Kool (Egmont, Belgium)
This research paper argues that the European Union should roll out a European Green Marshall Plan for ecosystem restoration and […]
Read more
“Beyond the “End of History”: Nationalism, Liberalism and the War in Ukraine”, Hadas Aron and Emily Holland (IAI, Italy)
The world is watching the alliance of liberalism and nationalism in Ukraine’s struggle for survival. These two ideas were the […]
Read more
“The EU’s Engagement with Latin America: The Case of Colombia”, Marcello Di Filippo (IAI, Italy)
The European Union has employed a wide set of legal and policy tools in its well-established relations with Colombia, playing […]
Read more
“Western financial warfare and Russia’s de-dollarization strategy: How sanctions on Russia might reshape the global financial system”, Maria Shagina (FIIA, Finland)
Since 2014, Russia’s de-dollarization plan has been guided by security and geopolitical considerations. By dumping the US dollar from its […]
Read more
“Southeast Asian democracy: Democratic regression or autocratic hardening?”, Bart Gaens and Olli Ruohomäki (FIIA, Finland)
In line with a global trend, Southeast Asia faces an overall decline in levels of democracy, raising the question of […]
Read more
“Europe cannot wait for unity: Teaming up to improve EU foreign policy effectiveness and what the Netherlands could contribute to it”, Ties Dams, Giulia Cretti and Louise van Schaik (Clingendael Institute, The Netherlands)
The EU is not always united and visible in foreign policy. This policy brief argues it could make more use […]
Read more
“Why Ukraine and Russia Stopped Talking”, John Zachau (UI, Sweden)
On 28 May, Chancellor of Germany Olaf Scholz and President of France Emmanuel Macron urged Russia’s President Vladimir Putin to […]
Read more
“Understanding non-state armed groups: Forces for good, evil or something in-between?”, Katariina Mustasilta, Olli Ruohomäki and Mathilda Salo (FIIA, Finland)
Non-state armed groups (NSAGs) are standard yet versatile protagonists in today’s armed conflicts. Struggling to deal with NSAGs, the dominant […]
Read more
“How the War in Ukraine Shapes the Multipolar World”, Sven Biscop (Egmont, Belgium)
Had China backed Russia like the EU and the US back Ukraine, that would have been a tipping point for […]
Read more
“Russia’s growing presence in Africa and its implication for EU policy”, Guido Lanfranchi and Kars de Bruijne (Clingendael Institute, The Netherlands)
The growth of Russia’s presence across Africa over the last decade has generated significant international concern, further exacerbated after Moscow’s […]
Read more
“The US–Italy Economic Relations in a Divided World”, Adriana Castagnoli (IAI, Italy)
In 2021, bilateral trade returned to the sustained pace it had prior to the Covid pandemic. Direct investment also grew […]
Read more
“An Overview of the Current State of US-Italian Political-Security Relations”, Dario Cristiani (IAI, Italy)
The relationship between the United States and Italy has historically been strong, although there have been moments of misunderstanding and […]
Read more
“What the Zeitgeist can Tell us About the Future of Terrorism”, Rik Coolsaet and Thomas Renard (Egmont, Belgium)
In the United States and across Europe, there is a broad recognition that right-wing extremism has become either the main […]
Read more
“Russian Youth: Their Attitude to the Ruling Elite and Political Processes”, Denis Volkov (IAI, Italy)
Young Russians are different from older generations. They are confident Internet users and thus have access to independent media and […]
Read more
“Not Yet Time for Diplomacy: Lessons from Italy’s Ill-Conceived Peace Plan for Ukraine”, Riccardo Alcaro and Nona Mikhelidze (IAI, Italy)
Few may have noticed, but Italy recently advanced its own diplomatic proposal for a resolution of the war in Ukraine. […]
Read more
“Lessons from the proposed contours of a Russia-Ukraine peace agreement: A way for China and Taiwan to coexist?”, Jyrki Kallio and Mikael Mattlin (FIIA, Finland)
If China’s security concerns with regard to the growing US presence in its neighbourhood are not taken seriously, it could […]
Read more
“Why Ukraine (and Moldova) Must Become EU Candidates”, Nathalie Tocci (IAI, Italy)
In the fourth month of war, European support for Ukraine risks sagging. This includes dropping the ball on Ukraine’s EU […]
Read more
“Turkish Foreign Policy and the EU: An Everlasting Candidate Between Delusion and Realities”, Jean-François Drevet (Egmont, Belgium)
The relationship between Turkey and the European Union has never been easy. It is now affected by the activism of […]
Read more
“The EU’s digital connectivity agenda in Southeast Asia and the benefits of coordination with Japan”, Maaike Okano-Heijmans (Clingendael Institute, The Netherlands)
This policy brief develops the argument for strengthening cooperation between the EU and Southeast Asia in the field of digital […]
Read more
“Legislation as a Tool for Expanding the Power of the State and Limiting Political and Civil Rights in Modern Russia”, Olga Romanova (IAI, Italy)
The whole world is now witnessing what Russian lawmaking of previous years has led to. The aggression against Ukraine is […]
Read more
“Examination of Afghanistan’s Development Traps”, Klemen Knez and Tina G. Lokar (CIR, Slovenia)
In the paper published in the Regional Science Policy and Practice journal, the authors examine the factors behind Afghanistan’s persistent […]
Read more
“Russia’s Dictated Non-Peace for Ukraine in 2014-2022”, Andreas Umland and Hugo von Essen (UI, Sweden)
Before 24 February 2022, the Russian-Ukrainian agreements signed in the capital of Belarus in 2014–2015 were seen by many observers […]
Read more
“The War in Ukraine and Studying the EU as a Security Actor”, Hylke Dijkstra (IAI, Italy)
The Russian invasion of Ukraine has resulted in the most serious conflict on the European continent since the Balkan wars […]
Read more
“The Psychology of a Warrior and the Psychology of a Murderer”, Mykhailo Mischenko (Razumkov Centre, Ukraine)
It is believed that during the war there are different moral rules than in peacetime, especially for combatants. After all, […]
Read more
“The Unprofessional Russian Soldier”, Joris Van Bladel (Egmont, Belgium)
Stuck in the middle between past and future, the Russian army struggles with a manpower paradox as it is simultaneously […]
Read more
“The Russian Soldiers’ Question Revisited”, Joris Van Bladel (Egmont, Belgium)
The Russian authorities apply an “algorithm of lies”, the Russian armed forces have become a sealed organization, and tactical information […]
Read more
“Three-Dimensionality as the Benefit?”, Vasyl Yurchyshyn (Razumkov Centre, Ukraine)
An important characteristic of the modern world order is that the United States and China, as the countries with the […]
Read more
“The Intervention Question: Lessons to Learn from Europe’s Military Presence in the Sahel”, Nina Wilén (Egmont, Belgium)
The Takuba Task Force, set up in March 2020, is a coalition of European special forces units with the aim […]
Read more
“War Aims”, Sven Biscop (Egmont, Belgium)
Faced with the brutality of Russia’s war, the emotional urge to do more to help Ukraine is fully understandable. But […]
Read more
“Ukrainian Contribution to the Global World Order”, Vasyl Yurchyshyn (Razumkov Centre, Ukraine)
The fight of Ukraine against Russian aggression has reflected the peculiarities and contradictions of global integration processes. It has encouraged and […]
Read more
“For Taiwan, China-friendly Hungary remains a key EU investment destination”, Ágnes Szunomár (IWE CERS, Hungary)
At the end of last year, the European Economic and Trade Office in Taiwan published its EU-Taiwan Relations brochure for the year […]
Read more
“What Are the International Military Options for the Sahel?”, Nina Wilén and Paul D. Williams (Egmont, Belgium)
For the last decade, a unique ecosystem of external forces has deployed over 21,000 uniformed personnel across the Sahel to […]
Read more
“The Foreign Policy of the European Union”, Stephan Keukeleire and Tom Delreux (College of Europe, Bruges)
Eight years after the 2nd edition, the fully revised third edition was published of the acclaimed ‘The Foreign Policy of […]
Read more
“Some Thoughts on the ‘Marshall Plan’ for Ukraine”, Vasyl Yurchyshyn (Razumkov Centre, Ukraine)
Quite rightly, when it comes to the post-war reconstruction of Ukraine, it is emphasised that such a restoration should take […]
Read more
“The impact of COVID-19 pandemic on gender-based-violence in Central Asia”, Laura Worsch (IEP, Germany)
Governments in Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan, including law enforcement and justice systems, continue to view and treat gender-based violence (GBV) largely […]
Read more
“The EU’s Diplomatic Engagement in the Sahel”, Bernardo Venturi (IAI, Italy)
What does it mean in practice for the European Union that the Sahel is a priority? Which political and operational […]
Read more
“The World Order Holds – For Now”, Sven Biscop (Egmont, Belgium)
Does the Russian invasion of Ukraine herald the end of the world order? The same was said in 2008, when […]
Read more
“Political ecology and human rights in Latin America: one planet, various disputes”, Sandra Hincapié (CIDOB, Barcelona)
The established global patterns of appropriating and distributing natural resources are called into question by the current international context of […]
Read more
“How to get out of violence? Challenges and limits of transitional justice”, Sandrine Lefranc (Sciences Po CEE, France)
Transitional justice refers to the art of pacifying societies in the aftermath of violent periods – be it dictatorship, civil […]
Read more
“Europe Must Play Its Key Role in Starving the Russian War Machine”, Kateryna Markevych (Razumkov Centre, Ukraine)
On February 24, Russia unleashed the war aimed at the total annihilation of the Ukrainians. Every passing day brings artillery […]
Read more
“The Sporting Sanctions against Russia: Debunking the Myth of Sport’s Neutrality”, Leo Goretti (IAI, Italy)
In response to Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, the International Olympic Committee and international sports federations took a number of exceptional […]
Read more
“Tanks versus Banks: Russian Military versus EU Geoeconomic Power”, Sven Biscop, Tobias Gehrke and Bernard Siman (Egmont, Belgium)
War is an instrument of policy. Those who lose sight of the policy objectives, or keep shifting them, rarely do […]
Read more
“The Fear of Victory”, James Sherr (Razumkov Centre, Ukraine)
Spurred on by the atrocities in Bucha, NATO allies have begun to shift from crisis management to a focus on […]
Read more
“More bark than bite? Assessing China’s coercive measures in Scandinavia”, Andreas Bøje Forsby and Bjørnar Sverdrup-Thygeson (NUPI, Norway)
Amid growing concern about Chinese coercion, this article examines the extent to which Beijing has resorted to such measures in […]
Read more
“Made in Ukraine: The EU’s Emerging Real(ist) Power”, Andriy Tyushka (College of Europe, Natolin)
This op-ed article looks into the early signs of the EU’s opening to using ‘hard power’ as part of its […]
Read more
“A European Defence Summit in May 2022: From Compass to Capabilities”, Sven Biscop (Egmont, Belgium)
By launching a war against Ukraine, right on the borders of the European Union, Russia has unleashed the strongest push […]
Read more
“What role for the EU in the world? Towards EU leadership based on values”, Stef Borgers and Raphaël Kokkelmans (College of Europe, Bruges)
In October 2021, the Belgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs launched a national consultation process on the role the EU should […]
Read more
“Differentiated integration in MERCOSUR: Risks and opportunities for the association with the European Union”, Anna Ayuso (CIDOB, Barcelona)
This article addresses how MERCOSUR has overcome tensions within the integration process over more than three decades. It applies the […]
Read more
“Protecting Civilians from Those Who Should Protect Them”, Delina Goxho (Egmont, Belgium)
As violent attacks targeting civilians in the Sahel region of West Africa are mounting, allegations of abuses perpetrated by Sahelian […]
Read more
“Who’s Been Making “African Solutions”? Mapping Membership Patterns in the African Union’s Peace and Security Council”, Nina Wilén and Paul D. Williams (Egmont, Belgium)
This year marks the 20th anniversary since the establishment of the Peace and Security Council (PSC) of the African Union, […]
Read more
“War and Peace in the 21st Century: A New Era of Geopolitics in Europe”, Pol Morillas and Francesca Leso (CIDOB, Barcelona)
“A New Era of Geopolitics in Europe: How Can the EU Secure a New Peace in Ukraine?” was the subject […]
Read more
“Adaptive Mediation and Conflict Resolution: Peace-Making in Colombia, Mozambique, the Philippines, and Syria”, Cedric de Coning, Ako Muto and Rui Saraiva (NUPI, Norway)
This open access book introduces adaptive mediation as an alternative approach that enables mediators to go beyond determined-design models of […]
Read more
“Mobilizing Against Russia? Some Reflections on the Security Deadlock Called Ukraine”, Joris Van Bladel (Egmont, Belgium)
No event exists beyond the media. This is also the case with the current Russian-Ukraine war. Daily, we are flooded […]
Read more
“Overcoming EU dividing lines in the Belgrade-Pristina Dialogue”, Wouter Zweers and Myrthe de Boon (Clingendael Institute, The Netherlands)
Last year saw the 10th anniversary of the EU-facilitated Belgrade-Pristina dialogue. While leading to results on technical matters, political normalisation […]
Read more
“Cuba and the European Union: Interregional Cooperation and Global Insertion”, Susanne Gratius and Raynier Pellón Azopardo (CIDOB, Barcelona)
The relationship between Cuba and the EU still is conditioned by asymmetries, the different nature of political and economic systems, […]
Read more
“The value of diplomatic history in a changing world”, Halvard Leira (NUPI, Norway)
There has never been a better time to read diplomatic history than right now. The topic is covered in broader, […]
Read more
“France in the Eastern Mediterranean and the MENA region’s geopolitical competition: French grandeur or European sovereignty?”, Toni Alaranta (FIIA, Finland)
The global rivalry between the US and China, as well as geopolitical competition and instability in the EU’s southern neighbourhood, […]
Read more
“Never waste a crisis: The war on Ukraine as a catalyst in the Balkans”, Ilana Bet-El (Egmont, Belgium)
“The difficulties and the wounds of the past have to be overcome in order to build a better future for […]
Read more
“All eyes on Ankara: A scenario exercise focused on the 2023 elections”, Nienke van Heukelingen (Clingendael Institute, The Netherlands)
Over the years, foreign policy has become a source of tension in the European Union’s relationship with Turkey. Although the […]
Read more
“Paradoxes of Russia’s war against Ukraine: Can political science help?”, Yulia Kurnyshova and Andrey Makarychev (CIDOB, Barcelona)
The war against Ukraine launched by Vladimir Putin’s regime on February 24, 2022, from the very beginning raised multiple questions […]
Read more
“Responding to Russian aggression: Military resolve, geoeconomics, and technological containment”, Edward Hunter Christie (FIIA, Finland)
In response to Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, Western governments have enacted packages of economic sanctions, principally in the […]
Read more
“The Strategic Compass of the European Union. An answer to global challenges”, Mihaela-Adriana Pădureanu, Ana-Maria Andreea Anghelescu and Ionuț-Mircea Marcu (EIR, Romania)
In view of the adoption of the Strategic Compass of the European Union, on 23 March 2022, the European Institute […]
Read more
“A Russia Strategy Must Look South: The Caucasus Impacts Europe through the Eastern Mediterranean”, Bernard Siman (Egmont, Belgium)
In the current Russian war of aggression against Ukraine, NATO and the EU would do well to recall the Boston […]
Read more
“Estonia in the UN Security Council: A History in Three Crises”, Richard Gowan (EFPI, Estonia)
This analysis explores Estonia’s Council term through the lens of three crises: The 2020 Iranian sanctions “snapback” debate, which saw […]
Read more
“A new formula for collaboration: Turkey, the EU & North Africa”, Nienke van Heukelingen et al. (Clingendael Institute, The Netherlands)
Over recent years, relations between Turkey and the European Union (EU) have been difficult and driven more by crisis management […]
Read more
“The Global Gateway”, Martin Fleischer (CIFE)
In December 2021 the European Union unveiled the Global Gateway. The programme focuses on global physical infrastructure needs to promote […]
Read more
“What role should southern Europe play after the pandemic and the war in Ukraine? Towards a shared agenda for EU reform”, Pol Morillas et al. (CIDOB, Barcelona)
As consistent supporters and a joint driving force of deeper European integration over the years, southern European member states today […]
Read more
“European defence beyond institutional boundaries: Improved European defence through flexibility, differentiation and coordination”, Pernille Rieker and Mathilde Giske (NUPI, Norway)
As a response to the changing geopolitical situation, initiatives aimed to strengthen European defence have been taken in NATO, in […]
Read more
“The Expanding Nexus between Space and Defence”, Alessandro Marrone and Michele Nones (IAI, Italy)
The strategic character of space has been recognised worldwide already during the Cold War. Space and defence have continued to […]
Read more
“Central Asia is a missing link in analyses of critical materials for the global clean energy transition”, Roman Vakulchuk and Indra Øverland (NUPI, Norway)
The energy transition is causing a surge in demand for minerals for clean energy technologies, giving rise to concerns about […]
Read more
“The Potential and Limits of the European Union as a Mediator in the Dialogue Between Serbia and Kosovo”, Vladimir Medović (IAI, Italy)
The dispute between Serbia and Kosovo over the status of the latter has the potential to destabilise other European states, […]
Read more
“A Joined-Up Union, a Stronger Europe: a Conceptual Framework to Investigate EU Foreign and Security Policy in a Complex and Contested World”, Riccardo Alcaro, Pol Bargués and Hylke Dijkstra (IAI, Italy)
Fractious domestic debates, the fragmentation of regional politics and growing interstate competition all affect the capacity of the EU to […]
Read more
“The European Maritime Security and Defence Policy Architecture: Implications for Norway”, Marianne Riddervold and Ruxandra-Laura Bosilca (NUPI, Norway)
Maritime security is high on the international and European security agenda, hence a number of new initiatives and actions have […]
Read more
“Not so unique after all? Urgency and norms in EU foreign and security policy”, Marianne Riddervold and Pernille Rieker (NUPI, Norway)
The EU Global Strategy puts ‘principled pragmatism’ at the core of EU foreign and security policy. This has also been […]
Read more
“AUKUS and its implications for Asia, US-European relations and non-proliferation”, Bruno Tertrais (NUPI, Norway)
The political, strategic and technological aspects of the AUKUS deal may be more important than the provision of nuclear-powered submarines. […]
Read more
“Constraints for Engagement with China: Dutch Ports and the BRI”, Vera Kranenburg and Frans-Paul van der Putten (IAI, Italy)
Rising US–China rivalry is shaping and constraining the relations between European states and China. The Netherlands is no exception and […]
Read more
“The EU’s Global Gateway: Building connectivity as a policy”, Tyyne Karjalainen (FIIA, Finland)
The European Union’s Global Gateway, adopted in December 2021, marks the continuation of efforts by numerous international actors to limit […]
Read more
“Russian Certainty of NATO Hostility: Repercussions in the Arctic”, Julie Wilhelmsen and Anni Roth Hjermann (NUPI, Norway)
How does a security dilemma dynamic between parties deemed not to hold hostile intentions toward each other emerge and escalate? […]
Read more
“New Policy Elites and the Affordable Care Act: The Making of Long-Term Insiders”, William Genieys, Mohammad-Saïd Darviche and Brent Epperson (Sciences Po CEE, France)
This paper examines the career trajectories of new health policy elites in the American federal government, identifying areas of expertise, […]
Read more
“The EU and the Eastern Mediterranean: The Multilateral Dialogue Option”, George Tzogopoulos (CIFE)
We’re pleased to announce the launch of our new E-book series CIFE Studies: The EU in World Politics. The first […]
Read more
“Between Commercialisation and Arsenalisation: the Emergence of New Spacial Issues”, Merve Samalp (CIFE)
During the Cold War, the space sector was structured by clashes between the United States and the USSR and technological […]
Read more
“Towards an EU-ASEAN digital partnership?”, Maaike Okano-Heijmans, Brigitte Dekker and Henry Chang (Clingendael Institute, The Netherlands)
In December 2021, the EU and Singapore launched talks towards a digital partnership agreement that could prove a building block […]
Read more
“China’s ‘enlightened authoritarianism’ as an alternative to liberal democracy”, Sean Golden (CIDOB, Barcelona)
China wants a new world order, but not the new world order initiated in Ukraine by the Putin regime. China […]
Read more
“War in Ukraine: The European Union evolves as Putin attacks”, Tyyne Karjalainen and Katariina Mustasilta (FIIA, Finland)
Russia’s military attack on Ukraine has prompted the European Union (EU) to turn a new page in foreign, security and […]
Read more
“Western support for Ukraine: How to contribute to achieving peace”, Arkady Moshes (FIIA, Finland)
Western assistance for Ukraine has been signifcant but still insufcient. Western decision-makers should realize that increasing economic, political, military, diplomatic […]
Read more
“The war in Ukraine deals a blow to Russia’s foreign direct investment links”, Kálmán Kalotay (IWE CERS, Hungary)
The war in Ukraine started in February 2022 adds major uncertainties to foreign direct investment (FDI) to and from the […]
Read more
“Europe’s Post-Cold War Order Is No More”, Riccardo Alcaro (IAI, Italy)
Russian President Vladimir Putin’s decision to recognise the independence of the self-styled separatist republics of Donetsk and Luhansk in the Donbas may very […]
Read more
“Putin’s Use and Abuse of History: Back to the 19th Century?”, Leo Goretti (IAI, Italy)
“Ukraine is not just a neighbouring country for us. It is an inalienable part of our own history, culture and […]
Read more
“The EU and the Ukraine War: Making Sense of the Rise of a ‘Geopolitical’ Union”, Riccardo Alcaro (IAI, Italy)
By ordering Russian armed forces into Ukraine, President Vladimir Putin has arguably made the greatest blunder of his twenty-two-year long […]
Read more
“Russian Energy Exports and the Conflict in Ukraine: What Options for Italy and the EU?”, Margherita Bianchi and Pier Paolo Raimondi (IAI, Italy)
Putin’s war on Ukraine has shaken the European Union to its core. Implications will be long lasting in numerous domains, […]
Read more
“The crisis in Ukraine: European solidarity in action” (EIR, Romania)
The European Institute of Romania has recently published a collective opinion titled “The crisis in Ukraine: European solidarity in action”. […]
Read more
“Putin’s critical raw materials are a threat to EU economic security”, Tobias Gehrke (Egmont, Belgium)
The financial and economic war the West has been unleashing onto Russia in response to Putin’s murderous assault on Ukraine […]
Read more
“The EU-Ukraine Association Agreement after Ukraine’s EU membership application: still fit for purpose”, Guillaume Van der Loo and Peter Van Elsuwege (Egmont Belgium)
In an extraordinary session of the European Parliament on 1 March 2022, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky requested from a bunker […]
Read more
“Putin Is Creating the Multipolar World He (Thought He) Wanted”, Bart Dessein, Jasper Roctus and Sven Biscop (Egmont, Belgium)
Up until the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Russia’s and China’s worsening relations with the European Union and the United States […]
Read more
“For Russia, the Ukraine Front Stretches to the Mediterranean”, Bernard Siman (Egmont, Belgium)
Russia’s strategic line in the current war on Ukraine doesn’t stop at the Crimea as most maps depict, but goes […]
Read more
“Russia Invades Ukraine: The Dangerous Weakness of a Military Superpower”, Sven Biscop (Egmont, Belgium)
What is an extra slice of Ukrainian territory to Russia? A war of aggression no longer fits in our European […]
Read more
“Russia’s war against Ukraine: preliminary observations”, Hugo Klijn (Clingendael Institute, The Netherlands)
Russia has launched an exceedingly cynical war of aggression against Ukraine. Since the apparently anticipated blitzkrieg victory didn’t materialise, this […]
Read more
“War in Ukraine and the gas crisis force a rethink of EU foreign policy”, Francis Ghilès (CIDOB, Barcelona)
As European gas prices hit an all-time high this week with futures linked to Title Transfer Facility (TTF), Europe’s wholesale […]
Read more
“Europe should avoid two traps as it confronts war in Ukraine”, Francis Ghilès (CIDOB, Barcelona)
As it confronts the most serious armed conflict in Europe since the end of the second world war, the European […]
Read more