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EU integration after the Liberal International Order

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  • Hansen, Olle

Abstract

The European Union (EU) emerged as a product and beneficiary of the Liberal International Order (LIO). Yet, as this order disintegrates, marked by multipolarity, thin multilateralism, and the return of power politics, the EU has taken unprecedented integrative steps, including joint debt issuance and development of industrial policy. Therefore, this paper asks how the shifting world order changes the logic of EU integration. Using a comparative discourse analysis of the EU's 2003 European Security Strategy, 2016 Global Strategy, and 2022 Strategic Compass, it traces how the logic of integration has shifted from being market-driven to being sovereignty-centred. The findings show that the order structure present during the EU's market-driven integration is no longer stable, prompting it to turn towards sovereignty-centred integration to respond to the disintegrating LIO. In doing so, this paper bridges mainstream integration theory with order theory, showing that not just internal dynamics but also order structure need to be accounted for to understand the logic of integration.

Suggested Citation

  • Hansen, Olle, 2026. "EU integration after the Liberal International Order," IPE Working Papers 265/2026, Berlin School of Economics and Law, Institute for International Political Economy (IPE).
    • Handle: RePEc:zbw:ipewps:336779
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    JEL classification:

    • F5 - International Economics - - International Relations, National Security, and International Political Economy
    • O52 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economywide Country Studies - - - Europe

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