A new business as usual? The impact of the ‘resilience turn’ on the EU’s foreign policy and approach towards the eastern neighbourhood

Abstract

The last decade has seen the concept of resilience gradually positioned at the centre of the way the European Union (EU) seeks to deal with endogenous and exogenous challenges, threats or risks. Originating primarily from natural sciences, resilience has provided an elegant and attractive option for the EU to revise its agenda. The so-called 'resilience turn' has come to permeate almost every aspect of the EU's discourse. In this context, the article aims to analyse the nature of the policy change underlined by the way the concept of resilience has permeated the approach developed by the EU towards the eastern neighbourhood and foreign policy more broadly. Change evaluated by focusing on two key aspects that underpin the EU's foreign policy: the scope of the EU's foreign policy, EU's understanding of the world order, with a particular focus on the role of geopolitics. The main finding of the article is the emphasis on resilience has induced only limited transformations in the EU's practice and ideas, leading to the transition to a new business as usual.

Shifting attitudes towards identity, borders and geopolitical choices: The case of Moldova

“…Geographically, Moldova is situated at a major crossroad where two great geopolitical projects collide: European integration versus Russia’s efforts to hold onto its sphere of influence over the former Soviet republics. Under these circumstances, Moldovan society has been split between the two geopolitical choices, and since the fall of the Soviet Union, has tried to balance (similarly to Ukraine) both projects to their own national interests (Korosteleva, 2010; Moga et al, 2021; Nitoiu & Simionov, 2022). As such, both Romania and Russia continue to play critical roles in Moldova’s evolution and development.…”

Ukraine: Geopolitical realities and regional development perspectives

“…Geographically, Ukraine is situated at a major crossroad, where two great geopolitical projects collide: the European integration versus Russia's efforts to hold into its sphere of influence over the former Soviet republics (Gladysh et al, 2020; Simionov & Pascariu, 2017). Under these circumstances, Ukrianian society has been split between the two geopolitical choices, and since the fall of the Soviet Union has tried to balance both projects to their own national interests (Korosteleva, 2010; Moga et al, 2021; Nitoiu & Simionov, 2022). As such, both the EU (along with the United States) and Russia continue to play critical roles in Ukraine's evolution and development.…”

“…Recent security initiatives with reviving the idea of Lublin Triangle focusing on deepening cooperation between Poland, Lithuania, and Ukraine, are facing aggressive threats while the political influence and potential of Ukraine as a regional political actor are growing.Geographically, Ukraine is situated at a major crossroad, where two great geopolitical projects collide: the European integration versus Russia's efforts to hold into its sphere of influence over the former Soviet republics (Gladysh et al, 2020;Simionov & Pascariu, 2017). Under these circumstances, Ukrianian society has been split between the two geopolitical choices, and since the fall of the Soviet Union has tried to balance both projects to their own national interests (Korosteleva, 2010;Moga et al, 2021;Nitoiu & Simionov, 2022). As such, both the EU (along with the United States) and Russia continue to play critical roles in Ukraine's evolution and development.Stacked between such powerful external actors, the post-Soviet states have primarily developed multi-vector foreign policies (Gnedina, 2015).…”