Policy Paper

Russia’s foreign policy is shaped by domestic factors and the authoritarian nature of its governance. This policy paper discusses the strategies the West needs to respond to the international and domestic wrongdoings already committed by the Kremlin and to deter Moscow’s future aggression.

Does the EU’s new agenda for the southern neighbourhood respond to the demands and practices of the Arab uprisings or does it revert to the stability paradigm? This policy paper argues that the EU could regain relevance in a multipolar region by putting itself more firmly behind citizens and their demands in the region.

There is a tendency in policy and academic circles to characterize state capture as the result of a late-development syndrome and unfair competition. This policy paper argues for the need to critically reflect on the key role of the current neoliberal economic model in sustaining these dynamics.

How is the idea of EU strategic autonomy used and how does it contrast with that of resilience as envisioned in the Global Strategy? This paper explores and highlights some related unforeseen risks for the EU external action.

Although populist actors can be vocal and conspicuous in aligning with external actors contesting the international liberal order, they rarely go as far as swaying or blocking EU foreign policy decisions and outputs.

The European Union should engage cautiously with state religious institutions so as to not unintentionally damage their legitimacy in the religious sphere.

The aim of this policy paper is to examine the EU’s conflict management approach to protracted conflicts in its neighbourhood and analyse how the resilience paradigm can mitigate the effects of areas of limited statehood and contested order in the European neighbourhood.

The EU needs to prioritize the global risks which not only endanger the EU and its surroundings in the long term, but can also act as major spoilers in the short term.

The EU should seek to strengthen societal resilience by supporting democratic reforms in its southern neighborhood. Such support should be guided by local priorities, those that address the economic and well as the political, educational, and health needs of the Arab public.

As part of their efforts to professionalize crisis and conflict prevention, foreign policy-makers are investing more in foresight, early warning or prediction. Different approaches and their products are suited for different purposes, based on distinct strengths and weaknesses.