The EU’s Role in a Multipolar World

Two countervailing forces appear to be at work in shaping the Union’s foreign policy. On the one hand, we are witness to a series of challenges which appear to call into question both the capacity and the effectiveness of EU foreign policy; from the loss of material and reputational capacity occasioned by Brexit, to ‘de – Europeanisation’ among some member states’ foreign policy to a weakening in the core bilateral partnership with the US and the increasing contestation of the global liberal order. Cumulatively these speak to a weaker Europe. On the other hand, we have also witnessed a quickening pace and further institutionalisation in EU defence policy, a continuing European solidarity towards key contestants such as Russia and a stalwart defence of signature multilateral agreements such as on climate change and towards Iran. These suggest a solidifying European presence in the world. This Section invites scholars both to analyse the empirical cases within both of these phenomena and to draw conceptual and theoretical conclusions which will assist both the academy and policy-makers better to explain and to understand the effect of their intersection. We also invite a broad selection of methodological approaches and contrasting paradigmatic perspectives to consider the Union’s place in the world, its role in meeting specific policy challenges, and the broader set of its global relationships and responsibilities. Particular welcome will be given to Papers and Panels that look at non-traditional approaches and those that contribute meaningfully to theory-building and methodological innovation.