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As Open as Possible, as Autonomous as Necessary: Understanding the Rise of Open Strategic Autonomy in EU Trade Policy

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  • Luuk Schmitz
  • Timo Seidl

Abstract

For decades, the EU's trade policy has been centred around open(ing) markets. Why, then, has the EU recently embraced open strategic autonomy as the conceptual cornerstone of its renewed trade policy? In this article, we argue that this move away from neoliberalism has to be understood against the background of a changing global environment. The geopoliticization of trade in particular has changed the Commission's view about how to best serve European interests (and values) but also provided an opening for neo‐mercantilist and socially oriented actors to challenge Europe's embedded neoliberal compromise. Using document analysis, interviews and discourse network analysis, we show how the Commission used open strategic autonomy as a coalition magnet to mobilize support for its new doctrine of qualified openness. Our paper contributes to understanding the ideational and coalitional politics behind the recent evolution of EU trade policy as well as broader debates around European autonomy and sovereignty.

Suggested Citation

  • Luuk Schmitz & Timo Seidl, 2023. "As Open as Possible, as Autonomous as Necessary: Understanding the Rise of Open Strategic Autonomy in EU Trade Policy," Journal of Common Market Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 61(3), pages 834-852, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:jcmkts:v:61:y:2023:i:3:p:834-852
    DOI: 10.1111/jcms.13428
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Benjamin Bürbaumer, 2020. "TNC Competitiveness in the Formation of the Single Market: The Role of European Business Revisited," Post-Print hal-02933699, HAL.
    2. Schimmelfennig, Frank, 2001. "The Community Trap: Liberal Norms, Rhetorical Action, and the Eastern Enlargement of the European Union," International Organization, Cambridge University Press, vol. 55(1), pages 47-80, January.
    3. Sophie Meunier & Kalypso Nicolaidis, 2019. "The Geopoliticization of European Trade and Investment Policy," Journal of Common Market Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 57(S1), pages 103-113, September.
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    Cited by:

    1. Clara Weinhardt & Ferdi De Ville, 2024. "The Geoeconomic Turn in EU Trade and Investment Policy: Implications for Developing Countries," Politics and Governance, Cogitatio Press, vol. 12.
    2. Antonio Calcara & Arlo Poletti, 2023. "Varieties of Anti‐Globalism: The Italian Government’s Evolving Stance on the EU’s Investment Screening Mechanism," Politics and Governance, Cogitatio Press, vol. 11(4), pages 177-187.
    3. Susanna Paleari, 2024. "The Role of Strategic Autonomy in the EU Green Transition," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(6), pages 1-22, March.
    4. Patricia Garcia-Duran & L. Johan Eliasson & Oriol Costa, 2023. "Commerce and Security Meet in the European Union’s Trade Defence Instruments," Politics and Governance, Cogitatio Press, vol. 11(4), pages 165-176.
    5. Sergio Mariotti, 2025. "“Open strategic autonomy” as an industrial policy compass for the EU competitiveness and growth: The good, the bad, or the ugly?," Economia e Politica Industriale: Journal of Industrial and Business Economics, Springer;Associazione Amici di Economia e Politica Industriale, vol. 52(1), pages 1-26, March.
    6. Patricia Garcia-Duran & L. Johan Eliasson & Oriol Costa, 2023. "Commerce and Security Meet in the European Union’s Trade Defence Instruments," Politics and Governance, Cogitatio Press, vol. 11(4), pages 165-176.
    7. Philipp Köncke & Nana de Graaff, 2024. "Chinese Multinationals and Europe’s Geoeconomic Turn: The De‐Globalization of the Chinese ICT and Automotive Industry?," Politics and Governance, Cogitatio Press, vol. 12.
    8. Youcef Bakhtaoui & Fadoua Eljai, 2025. "The Concept of Industrial Sovereignty in Morocco: An Old-New Paradigm Le concept de souveraineté industrielle au Maroc : Un paradigme ancien-nouveau [Le concept de souveraineté industrielle au Maro," Post-Print hal-05111573, HAL.
    9. Antonio Calcara & Arlo Poletti, 2023. "Varieties of Anti‐Globalism: The Italian Government’s Evolving Stance on the EU’s Investment Screening Mechanism," Politics and Governance, Cogitatio Press, vol. 11(4), pages 177-187.
    10. Lorenzo Cresti & Dario Mazzilli & Aurelio Patelli & Angelica Sbardella & Andrea Tacchella, 2025. "Vulnerabilities and capabilities in the EU Automotive industry: Leveraging Input-Output Analysis and Economic Complexity," Papers 2501.01781, arXiv.org, revised Jan 2025.
    11. Tomasz Jerzyniak, 2024. "The EU De‐Risking of Energy Dependencies: Towards a New Clean Energy Geopolitical Order?," Politics and Governance, Cogitatio Press, vol. 12.

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