Stuck on the stairway of change

The EU’s enlargement and security and defence policies post 2022

Bibliographic Data

ID6407029
AuthorsАнтоанета Димитрова (0000-0002-7592-0587, Leiden University, corresponding author), Seda Gürkan (0000-0003-4971-9537, Leiden University), Joachim Koops (0000-0002-5107-5067, Leiden University)
Year2025
Pages1-27
Publication date2025-08-22
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueWest European Politics (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0140-2382 • E-ISSN: 1743-9655
PublisherInforma UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/01402382.2025.2539010
OpenAlexW4413412678
LanguageEN
Citations received2
References cited47

Since the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the European Union (EU) has taken a number of unprecedented decisions. These decisions and policy measures have involved key EU policies, above all the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP), the Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) and enlargement. Has the external shock of the war created conditions for these policies to take a new path? Has the war been a ‘critical juncture’ for one or both of these policies? This article proposes a ‘stairway of change’ framework building on institutionalist literature to explore the nature of change. Applying this framework, the article addresses the question of the sustainability and scope of the policy changes in CFSP/CSDP and enlargement by analysing discourses, decisions, policy measures and funding. It is concluded that while there have been significant shifts in these, both policies remain stuck somewhere on the stairway towards sustainable change

Business · Economics · European union · International economics · International trade · Political science · Resizing · European Politics and Security · European Union Policy and Governance

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