New Multipolarity in Contemporary European Union’s Foreign Policy Discourse

Amid the ongoing qualitative transformation of the international system, the leaders of the European Union go beyond day-to-day political agenda, attempting to describe the emerging global geopolitical landscape. The article explores the vision of the contemporary world order and the EU’s role in it as released by its officials. The analysis of the EU’s official discourse provides insight into the ideas that shape Brussels’ policy of adaptation to the changing environment, and allows to identify the theory that best explains the EU’s foreign policy trajectory. Methodologically the article is based on statements made by senior EU officials in 2023-2024, e.g., High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell, President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, etc. In describing the world as multipolar, EU leaders attend to different aspects of today's multipolarity. The analysis shows that systemic geopolitical pressure exerts significant impact on the EU’s foreign policy and positioning, therefore purely endogenous approaches are insufficient for a comprehensive study of the Union’s actorness. The discourse combines elements of realist and normative logics. On the one hand, Brussels address the balance of power and various dimensions of security. On the other hand, it projects common values, multilateralism, and partnership. Debates about the EU’s actorness seem more fruitful if they imply convergence of different theories: deep understanding of global dynamic and intra-European specifics, as well as normative and strategic behavioral logics. 

1. Arbatova N. K. The versatile triangle: EU relations with the USA and China. Polis. Political Studies, 2023, (6): 83–99. (In Russ.)] https://doi.org/10.17976/jpps/2023.06.07

2. Korovnikova N. A. The EU-PRC: Cooperation, competition or "de-risking"? Current Problems of Europe, 2024, (4): 87–105. (In Russ.)] https://doi.org/10.31249/ape/2024.04.05

3. Mazanik S. V., Romanova T. A. Geopolitics of connectivity: The EU in Central Asia. Vestnik RUDN. International Relations, 2024, 24(4): 563–575. (In Russ.)] https://elibrary.ru/luqgdz

4. Melnikova Ju. Ju. Managing interdependence in the EU – China relations: Economic aspects. Comparative Politics, 2022, 13(1-2): 139–157. (In Russ.)] https://doi.org/10.46272/2221-3279-2022-1-2-13-139-157

5. Nosov M. G. EU and China: Trade or strategy. Sovremennaya Evropa, 2018, (6): 5–17. (In Russ.)] http://dx.doi.org/10.15211/soveurope620180517

6. Aggestam L., Hyde-Price A. Double trouble: Trump, Transatlantic relations and European strategic autonomy. Journal of Common Market Studies, 2019, 57(S1): 114–127. https://doi.org/10.1111/jcms.12948

7. Biba S. The European Union’s place in United States–China strategic competition: How role dynamics drive Brussels towards Washington. Journal of Common Market Studies, 2025, 63(1): 71–88. https://doi.org/10.1111/jcms.13605

8. Bosse G. The EU’s response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine: Invoking norms and values in times of fundamental rupture. Journal of Common Market Studies, 2024, 62(5): 1222–1238. https://doi.org/10.1111/jcms.13569

9. Brooks S. G., Wohlforth W. C. The myth of multipolarity: American power’s staying power. Foreign Affairs, 2023, 102(3). URL: https://www.foreignaffairs.com/united-states/china-multipolarity-myth (accessed 10 Jan 2025).

10. Derviş K. Can multilateralism survive? Brookings. 23 Jul 2018. URL: https://www.brookings.edu/articles/can-multilateralism-survive/ (accessed 10 Jan 2025).

11. Diez T. Power transition as a challenge to normative power Europe. Power transition in the anarchical society: Rising powers, institutional change and the new world order, eds. Knudsen T. B., Navari C. L.: Palgrave Macmillan, 2022, 153–176.

12. Dijkstra H. Introduction: One-and-a-half cheers for the EU global strategy. Contemporary Security Policy, 2016, 37(3): 369–373. https://doi.org/10.1080/13523260.2016.1244241

13. Flockhart T. The coming multi-order world. Contemporary Security Policy, 2016, 37(1): 3–30. https://doi.org/10.1080/13523260.2016.1150053

14. Gehrke T. EU open strategic autonomy and the trappings of geoeconomics. European Foreign Affairs Review, 2022, 27(SI): 61–78. https://doi.org/10.54648/eerr2022012

15. Haroche P. Geoeconomic power Europe: When global power competition drives EU integration. Journal of Common Market Studies, 2024, 62(4): 938–954. https://doi.org/10.1111/jcms.13596

16. Juncos A. E., Vanhoonacker S. The ideational power of strategic autonomy in EU security and external economic policies. Journal of Common Market Studies, 2024, 62(4): 955–972. https://doi.org/10.1111/jcms.13597

17. Lavere S., Schmid D. European Integration and the New Global Disorder. Journal of Common Market Studies, 2021, 59(5): 1322–1338. https://doi.org/10.1111/jcms.13184

18. Manners I. Arrival of normative power in planetary politics. Journal of Common Market Studies, 2024, 62(3): 825–844. https://doi.org/10.1111/jcms.13505

19. Mearsheimer J. J. Bound to fail: The rise and fall of the liberal international order. International Security, 2019, 43(4): 7–50. https://doi.org/10.1162/isec_a_00342

20. Nitoiu C., Sus M. Introduction: The rise of geopolitics in the EU’s approach in its Eastern neighbourhood. Geopolitics, 2019, 24(1): 1–19. https://doi.org/10.1080/14650045.2019.1544396

21. Pace M. The construction of EU normative power and the Middle East ‘Conflict’ … 16 Years on. Journal of Common Market Studies, 2024, 62(3): 868–884. https://doi.org/10.1111/jcms.13492

22. Riddervold М., Rosén G. Unified in response to rising powers? China, Russia and EU-US relations. Journal of European Integration, 2018, 40(5): 555–570. https://doi.org/10.1080/07036337.2018.1488838

23. Rieker P., Riddervold M. Not so unique after all? Urgency and norms in EU foreign and security policy. Journal of European Integration, 2022, 44(4): 459–473. https://doi.org/10.1080/07036337.2021.1977293

24. Sjursen H., Rosén G. Arguing sanctions. On the EU’s response to the crisis in Ukraine. Journal of Common Market Studies, 2017, 55(1): 20–36. https://doi.org/10.1111/jcms.12443

25. Wohlforth W. C. Polarity and international order: Past and future. Polarity in international relations. Governance, security and development, eds. Græger N., Heurlin B., Wæver O., Wivel A. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham, 2022, 411–424. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-05505-8_21