Does the EU Still Have Normative Power? Rethinking Europe in a Time of Crisis

Does the EU Still Have Normative Power? Rethinking Europe in a Time of Crisis

'Does the EU Still Have Normative Power? Rethinking Europe in a Time of Crisis' brought to you by the European Dialogue. What does it mean for the European Union to have “normative power” in today’s world, and does that idea still hold? In this episode recorded in February 2026, Professor Ian Manners revisits the concept he famously coined and reflects on how the EU’s global role is being reshaped in a time of overlapping crises. This podcast is part of The European Dialogue podcast series. You can listen to this on Spotify, YouTube or SoundCloud. Links below. 🎙 Drawing on Ian’s latest research, this conversation explores new ways of understanding Europe, from his concept of European Communion to his work on planetary politics and the idea of a “planetary organic crisis” - a convergence of inequality, injustice, ecological breakdown, and insecurity shaping global affairs. Ian invites us to rethink Europe beyond traditional notions of power, and to consider how the EU might act ethically, collectively, and credibly in an increasingly complex world. Key Topics Covered: ✅ Does the concept of “normative power” still apply in 2026? ✅ The idea of European Communion and what it means for solidarity and integration ✅ Understanding today’s planetary crisis and the EU’s role within it ✅ Critiques of EU “double standards” from global actors like Russia and China ✅ What the EU could look like by 2033 📊 The discussion also connects to wider global realities. Recent reports by organisations such as Oxfam and Amnesty International highlight rising inequality, democratic backsliding, and human rights challenges worldwide, raising urgent questions about whether the EU can still lead by example. 📚 Further reading – Ian Manners’ work: (1) Future scenarios of the European project – a Rubik’s cube of possibilities (2013) in in Rikard Bengtsson, Ian Manners, Hans-Åke Persson, Linda Gröning & Ola Zetterquist The European project: politics and law – history and future (Malmö: Liber, 2013), pp. 260-267. (2) European communion: political theory of European union (2013) https://portal.research.lu.se/files/95330293/Ian_Manners_2013_European_communion_political_theory_of_European_union_word_version.pdf (3) Planetary Politics in the Twenty-Second Century (2023) https://portal.research.lu.se/files/157031395/Ian_Manners_2023_Planetary_Politics_in_the_Twenty_Second_Century_word_version.pdf (4) Arrival of Normative Power in Planetary Politics (2024) https://doi.org/10.1111/jcms.13505 (5) Introduction to the Twentieth Anniversary Special Issue on Normative Power in the Planetary Organic Crisis (2025) https://doi.org/10.1177/00108367251348113 (6) Normative Power in the Planetary Organic Crisis (2025) https://doi.org/10.1177/00108367241244954 🌐 Visit our website to join webinars, read blogs, and listen to more podcasts! www.eu-values.eu/ 📲 Follow us for more insights: Instagram 👉 www.instagram.com/euvalues.eu/ LinkedIn 👉 www.linkedin.com/company/eu-values-network/ Bluesky 👉 bsky.app/profile/euvaluesnetwork.bsky.social Spotify 🎧 👉 open.spotify.com/show/4bmecvWt1As2M4cRBsyW6i SoundCloud 👉 @euvaluesnetwork #EUValues #EuropeanUnion #NormativePower #IanManners #GlobalPolitics #Inequality #HumanRights #PlanetaryPolitics #EuropeanDialogue

Gender Backlash & Democratic Values: Lessons from Latin America for Europe

In this episode of The European Dialogue, we explore the growing global pushback against gender equality and democratic values, and what Europe can learn from Latin America and the Caribbean. From anti-gender ideology campaigns to the strategic use of religion in politics, coordinated efforts to roll back women’s and LGBTIQ+ rights are reshaping democratic spaces across regions. This podcast is part of The European Dialogue series by the EU-VALUES Network. You can listen on Spotify, YouTube, or SoundCloud. Links below. We are joined by Magdalena Provis Ramírez, Executive Coordinator of the Observatory on Gender Backlash in Latin America and the Caribbean. The Observatory tracks and documents systematic efforts to undermine gender equality through innovative tools such as geolocation of policies, media monitoring, and institutional tracking. Her work not only supports responses in Latin America but also offers critical lessons for European actors monitoring democracy and human rights. Recorded as part of the EU-VALUES Network’s ongoing dialogue on global democratic challenges, this conversation highlights the importance of equal partnerships between Europe and Latin America — grounded in mutual learning, feminist solidarity, and shared strategies. Key Topics Covered: ✅ Why the Observatory on Gender Backlash was created ✅ How anti-gender movements operate across Latin America and Europe ✅ What EU institutions can learn from geolocation and policy-tracking methods ✅ Building more equal EU–Latin America partnerships ✅ Opportunities for collaboration with civil society, universities, and EU institutions ✅ How listeners can engage with and support the Observatory’s work At a time of democratic backsliding and global polarisation, this episode asks: how can feminist and democratic networks work together to resist coordinated backlash and strengthen shared values? 🔔 Learn more about the Observatory here: https://observabacklash.prigepp.org/ and get in touch directly with the team: - Blas Fernandez, bfernandez@flacso.org.ar - Magdalena Provis, magdalenaprovis@gmail.com 🔔 Stay updated with EU-VALUES. Subscribe for more expert insights on EU values, democracy, and international cooperation across podcasts, webinars, blogs, and videos. 🌐 Visit our website to learn more about our work: www.eu-values.eu/ 📲 Follow us for more insights: Instagram 👉 www.instagram.com/euvalues.eu/ LinkedIn 👉 www.linkedin.com/company/eu-values-network/ Bluesky 👉 bsky.app/profile/euvaluesnetwork.bsky.social Spotify Podcast 🎧 👉 open.spotify.com/show/4bmecvWt1As2M4cRBsyW6i SoundCloud 👉 @euvaluesnetwork #Genderequality #democracy #LGBTIQ #latinamerica #EUVALUES #feminism #humanrights

India, Europe, and the Ukraine War: Perceptions Beyond Brussels

In this episode of The European Dialogue, we explore how the European Union’s response to Russia’s war against Ukraine is perceived beyond Europe — with a particular focus on India and the wider Global South. What does Europe’s value-based foreign policy look like from New Delhi? And what does this mean for the EU’s global credibility today? This podcast is part of The European Dialogue podcast series. You can listen on Spotify, YouTube, or SoundCloud. Links below. We are joined by Rahul Desarda, Assistant Lecturer at Jindal Global Law School and Assistant Director of the Mahatma Gandhi Centre for Peace Studies, for a timely conversation recorded in Jakarta during the EU-VALUES International Conference hosted by BINUS University in December 2025. Drawing on his research in international law and peace studies, Rahul unpacks India’s position on the war in Ukraine and situates it within a broader foreign-policy approach shaped by strategic autonomy and multipolarity. Key Topics Covered: ✅ India’s position on Russia’s war against Ukraine ✅ How Indian policy, media, and academic debates view EU sanctions and military assistance ✅ What Global South perspectives reveal about Europe’s normative power ✅ Comparisons with Southeast Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa ✅ How the EU can strengthen the credibility of its value-based foreign policy and multilateral engagement Recorded against the backdrop of ongoing geopolitical fragmentation, this conversation offers critical insight into how Europe is seen beyond its own borders — and what that means for the future of global cooperation. 🔔 Stay updated with EU-VALUES. Subscribe for more expert insights on EU values, foreign policy, and democracy across podcasts, webinars, blogs, and videos. 🌐 Visit our website to learn more about our work: www.eu-values.eu/ 📲 Follow us for more insights: Instagram 👉 www.instagram.com/euvalues.eu/ LinkedIn 👉 www.linkedin.com/company/eu-values-network/ Bluesky 👉 bsky.app/profile/euvaluesnetwork.bsky.social Spotify Podcast 🎧 👉 open.spotify.com/show/4bmecvWt1As2M4cRBsyW6i SoundCloud 👉 @euvaluesnetwork #EuropeanDialogue #EUVALUES #UkraineWar #IndiaEU #StrategicAutonomy #NormativePower #GlobalSouth #InternationalLaw #Geopolitics

Between Sovereignty and Normative Power: Reassessing EU–ASEAN Relations with Sukmawani Bela Pertiwi

How has ASEAN evolved beyond economics, and what does this mean for democracy, human rights, and its partnership with the European Union? In this episode, Sukmawani Bela Pertiwi breaks down the political development of ASEAN, its core principles of sovereignty and non-interference, and how these shape the region’s engagement with Europe. This podcast is part of The European Dialogue series. You can listen on Spotify, YouTube, or SoundCloud. Links below. Drawing on Bela’s extensive experience in Southeast Asian studies and EU–ASEAN cooperation, this conversation explores how regionalism, values, and political diversity intersect — and what space the EU really has to promote human rights in a region where sovereignty is strongly protected. Key Topics Covered: ✅ The historical origins and evolution of ASEAN ✅ How ASEAN approaches democracy and human rights across diverse political systems ✅ The current state of EU–ASEAN relations — beyond trade and into politics ✅ Why the EU’s “normative power” is often limited in Southeast Asia ✅ The softer, hybrid forms of engagement the EU uses to support long-term human rights change 🌐 Visit our website to join webinars, read blogs, and listen to more podcasts! www.eu-values.eu/ 📲 Follow us for more insights: Instagram 👉 www.instagram.com/euvalues.eu/ LinkedIn 👉 www.linkedin.com/company/eu-values-network/ Bluesky 👉 bsky.app/profile/euvaluesnetwork.bsky.social Spotify 🎧 👉 open.spotify.com/show/4bmecvWt1As2M4cRBsyW6i SoundCloud 👉 @euvaluesnetwork #ASEAN #EUASEAN #humanrights #democraacy #euvalues #regionalism #southeastasia #foreignpolicy #politicalscience

Democratic Erosion and European Engagement: Insights from Turkey and Beyond

How do European values hold up in an age of democratic backsliding? In this episode, Dr. Berk Esen, Associate Professor of Political Science at Sabancı University, joins host Emily Jones to discuss how democracy is evolving in Turkey and beyond, what parallels can be drawn with the United States, and what lessons Europe can learn from its engagement with countries like Turkey, Hungary, and Serbia. This episode is part of The European Dialogue podcast series, produced by the EU-VALUES Jean Monnet Network. You can listen on Spotify, YouTube, or SoundCloud—links below. Drawing on Dr. Esen’s research on party politics, authoritarianism, and democratic erosion, this discussion examines how European values are perceived from outside the EU, where double standards persist, and what tools remain for protecting democracy globally. Key Topics Covered: - How European values are viewed from a Turkish perspective - Similarities and differences in democratic erosion between Turkey and the United States - Europe’s balance between strategic interests and democratic principles - Comparative insights from Hungary and Serbia - What lessons Europe can draw to strengthen democratic resilience Further Reading — Dr. Berk Esen’s Work: - Esen, Berk, and Sebnem Gumuscu. "Rising competitive authoritarianism in Turkey." Third world quarterly 37, no. 9 (2016): 1581-1606. - Esen, Berk, and Sebnem Gumuscu. "Why did Turkish democracy collapse? A political economy account of AKP’s authoritarianism." Party Politics 27, no. 6 (2021): 1075-1091. - Esen, Berk, and Sebnem Gumuscu. "How Erdoğan's populism won again." Journal of Democracy 34, no. 3 (2023): 21-32. - Esen, Berk, and Sebnem Gumuscu. "Turkey: How the coup failed." Journal of Democracy 28, no. 1 (2017): 59-73. - Yavuzyılmaz, Hakan, and Berk Esen. "Formal yet ineffective opposition coordination under competitive authoritarianism: Nation Alliance in Turkey." Third World Quarterly 46, no. 2 (2025): 237-257. - Esen, Berk. "Judicial transformation in a competitive authoritarian regime: Evidence from the Turkish case." Law & Policy 47, no. 1 (2025): e12250. 🌐 Visit our website to listen to more episodes, watch our vidoes or join our live webinar events: www.eu-values.eu 📲 Follow us for more insights: Instagram 👉 www.instagram.com/euvalues.eu LinkedIn 👉 www.linkedin.com/company/eu-values-network Bluesky 👉 bsky.app/profile/euvaluesnetwork.bsky.social Spotify 🎧 👉 open.spotify.com/show/4bmecvWt1As2M4cRBsyW6i SoundCloud 👉 @euvaluesnetwork #Democracy #EuropeanValues #Europe #Türkiye #Turkey #Authoritarianism #EUPolitics #PoliticalScience