RC03 - European Unification

Call for Papers for the Panel “An EU geopolitical actorness? Exploring the Renewal of EU Foreign Policy in a shifting world order” organised by Dealan Riga at the 2025 IPSA World Congress of Political Science (12-16 July 2025, Seoul, South Korea)

Deadline for submitting paper proposals: 1 November 2024. Submit your proposals to Deala Riga (dealan.riga@uliege.be).

Panel abstract: Over the past few years, the European Union (EU) has faced growing challenges such as weaponization of trade interdependence, the diffusion of global power, and the resurgence of great power politics. These external pressures have significantly impacted the EU, prompting the announcement of a Geopolitical Commission, a renewed foreign policy toolbox, and a more assertive approach to global trade. Academic debate has increasingly focused on the EU's geo-economic turn and the emergence of new avenues for external policy. However, further discussion is needed to fully understand the broader implications of the EU’s evolving role in global affairs. This panel seeks to explore the renewal of the EU’s external policy, focusing both on new foreign policy initiatives such as the Global Gateway or the renewal of pre-existing mechanism in a more strategic framework. It invites scholars to engage with the conceptual foundations of this shift and provide empirical evidence of the EU's changing approach to global affairs. Papers addressing conceptual developments surrounding the EU's geo-economic turn, actorness, and power in global affairs are encouraged, along with case studies providing concrete examples, such as the EU's Indo-Pacific strategy, economic security measures, or strategic autonomy initiatives.