Battle for the European Union in the periphery: contestation dynamics and domestic debates

ABSTRACT

Connected by a shared endeavour to enhance understanding of the forces that shape contestation toward the EU in its peripheries and unprohibited in approach, this special section explores the concepts of contestation and periphery. Using various methodological approaches, the section showcases a series of overlapping and cross-cutting themes which contextually strengthen the phenomenon and experiences of contestation in peripheral states. In aggregating these themes, the authors attribute contestation to the growing ‘absence’ of the EU’s normative interest in peripheral states and the growing transactional/functional features that define peripheral state relationships with the EU. The authors draw attention to the opportunities for regional rivals, such as Russia and China to capitalize on the absence of the EU’s transformative power in peripheral states, the role of domestic forces in utilizing contestation as a means to preserve regime type and satisfy sovereignty concerns, and the incidences of peripheral states in shaping/reshaping their foreign policy positions in response to the Russia-Ukraine war. Taken together, our special section shows that contestation in Europe’s periphery is less an overt normative resistance against the EU and more an absence of EU normative efforts in peripheral states and the increasingly functional features which define peripheral states’ relationships with the EU.

KEYWORDS:

• European Union
• Europeanization
• contestation
• periphery

Acknowledgements

We extend our gratitude to Başak Alpan, Senem Aydın Düzgit, Thomas Diez, and Simon Usherwood for their valuable contributions and insightful feedback during the preparation of this special section. Additionally, we would like to express our appreciation to Ioannis N. Grigoriadis and Ümit Erol Aras for their unwavering support throughout the publication process.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes

1. For the details about ‘the Linking to Europe at the Periphery Project’, please visit: https://www.leapjmnetwork.com/about

2. Part of this aim was fulfilled by a workshop organized in Eskişehir on 15–16 October 2022 with the title of Contesting ‘Europe’ at the Periphery, for further details and the program, please visit: https://www.leapjmnetwork.com/activity/w3

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Ali Onur Özçelіk

Ali Onur Özçelik is an Associate Professor and a full-time Lecturer in the International Relations Department at Eskisehir Osmangazi University. After earning his Ph.D. in the Department of Politics at the University of Sheffield, he has focused his research on the politics of non-state actors, transnational social movements, diplomacy for non-state actors, and states with limited recognition, as well as the European Union’s Neighborhood Policy. He co-edited two books, namely “The World Community and the Arab Spring” (Palgrave) and “EU Conditionality in Turkey: When Does It Work? When Does It Fail?” (Rowman & Littlefield). Özçelik has also served as a researcher for the Jean Monnet Networking Project known as “Linking to Europe at the Periphery” (LEAP).

Kadri Kaan Renda

Kadri Kaan Renda is an assistant professor in the department of international relations at Hacettepe University, Ankara. Renda holds a PhD in European and International Studies from Kings College London. He received his master’s degree in European Studies from the University of Essex. He has been giving lectures on Turkish foreign policy, the European Union, and Research Methods at Hacettepe University. His research interests are Turkish foreign policy, the common foreign and security policy of the EU, and security studies.

Anthony Costello

Anthony Costello is a lecturer of politics and international relations in Liverpool Hope University. He holds a PhD in European Integration and Governance from University College Cork (UCC), an MSc in Nationalism and Ethno-communal Conflict Resolution from University College Dublin (UCD) and a BA (Hons) in Politics and Philosophy from University College Dublin (UCD). His research interests include patterns of European integration and EU policy-making methods, fiscal governance in the EU, EU foreign policy processes, and the future of Europe. He has published work on the EU Fiscal Stability Treaty, the European Neighborhood policy and Ireland and the Future of Europe.