The liberal world order based on multilateralism is being challenged by populism and revisionism from various parts of the international system. When the United States shows less interest in and support for global multilateralism, it could create an opportunity for the European Union to show leadership. However, at the same time, the EU is going through some of its worst crises since its inception. For the first time, the organization is dealing with the withdrawal of a member state from the Union. The EU’s neighbourhood policy is challenged by Russia in Ukraine and elsewhere in eastern Europe. Internally, the Union is increasingly divided over issues such as asylum and migration. Over the last couple of years, we have witnessed the reintroduction of (temporary) border controls at several places in Europe. Moreover, the euro is struggling to regain confidence in the wake of the global financial crisis.

During this year’s spring conference, we wish to focus on how these multiple crises and challenges for the integration process have changed the nature of the EU; and how they impact on the role of the Union in a world characterized by deep changes to global politics. Can the EU still be described as an actor in global politics? Is the European integration process still a role model for other regions?

The keynote address of the conference will be delivered by Professor Jan Zielonka, Oxford University.
We welcome papers that address the conference theme as well as papers and panels that focus on other aspects of European politics, broadly defined.

The programme for the conference External link. is now available.

All papers will be made available to conference participants in an online repository prior to the conference.

Paper authors should upload their papers to this repository, or submit their papers via e-mail (snes@sh.se) to the conference organisers, by Wednesday 25 March at the latest.

Registration

Registration deadline: 21 February 2020.
Registration to the conference should be made online. Instructions to follow.

Venue

The conference is organised by the Department of Political Science at the School of Social Sciences, Södertörn University and SNES, Uppsala University. The venue is Campus Flemingsberg, south of Stockholm.

SNES

The Swedish Network for European Studies in Political Science (SNES) aims to promote research in political science focused on European politics and to support exchanges among researchers and doctoral students. SNES consists of twelve member departments at Uppsala University, Malmö University, Lund University, Linnaeus University, Karlstad University, Umeå University, Linköping University, Dalarna University, Stockholm University, University of Gothenburg, Mid Sweden University and Södertörn University. For more information visit, the network's website (www.snes.se).

Conference conveners: Mats Braun, Nicholas Aylott and Nina Carlsson.