Themed Track 6: European Security

Convenors: Professor @jocelynmawdsley.bsky.social, Dr Laura Chappell and Professor Anna Molnár

Read more about our themed tracks: www.uaces.org/themedtracks...

#UACES2026

Drive to survive: Lukashenka's foreign policy shifts from simulating multi-vectorism to stealthily bandwagoning with Russia's military adventurism This article discusses the key patterns of Belarusian foreign policy, identifying causes and explaining patterns of its transformation, particularly after the outbreak of the Belarusian crisis (202...

34(4) Drive to survive: Lukashenka's foreign policy shifts from simulating multi-vectorism to stealthily bandwagoning with Russia's military adventurism by Ryhor Nizhnikau: www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....

In-between who? Armenian and Georgian shifting perceptions and geostrategies of inbetweenness amidst EU–Russian power projections This article examines how Armenia and Georgia, two small states navigating the contested geopolitics of the South Caucasus, are devising distinct geostrategies in response to their condition of “in...

34(4) In-between who? Armenian and Georgian shifting perceptions and geostrategies of inbetweenness amidst EU–Russian power projections by Kornely Kakachia & Bidzina Lebanidze: www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....

Furthest away from Russia and ever closer to the EU? Moldova hedging its bets on alternating alignments and (differentiated) dis/integration Positioned at the intersection of geopolitical tensions, Moldova has grappled with the intricacies and uncertainties of a great power rivalry between Russia and the European Union. Under the leader...

34(4) OA Furthest away from Russia and ever closer to the EU? Moldova hedging its bets on alternating alignments and (differentiated) dis/integration by Dorina Baltag & Amy Eaglestone: www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....

Ukraine’s geostrategic responses to the challenges of geopolitical “Inbetweenness”: from multivectorism to (under)balancing and fighting the war of independence Adopting a lens of geopolitical and geostrategic “inbetweenness”, this article examines the evolution of Ukraine's foreign and security policy in 1991–2025, thereby considering the “shadow” of evol...

34(4) Ukraine’s geostrategic responses to the challenges of geopolitical “Inbetweenness”: from multivectorism to (under)balancing and fighting the war of independence by Mykola Kapitonenko: www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....

Perks and perils of “geostrategic inbetweenness”: the EU–Russia great power competition in the “(un)common neighbourhood” and foreign policy choices of states caught in-between Conventional wisdom has it that the “in-between” countries, especially those located between the rivalling great(er) powers, find themselves “between a rock and a hard place”, which neatly reflects...

34(4) Perks and perils of “geostrategic inbetweenness”: the EU–Russia great power competition in the “(un)common neighbourhood” and foreign policy choices of states caught in-between by Andriy Tyushka: www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....

Exercising power in the common neighbourhood: the EU and Russia between cooperation, competition, and conflict There has been a growing competition between Russia and the European Union (EU) in their common neighbourhood over the past decade, culminating in direct conflict following Russia's invasion of Ukr...

34(4) OA Exercising power in the common neighbourhood: the EU and Russia between cooperation, competition, and conflict
by Tracey German: www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....

Between ambition and constraint: Spain’s defence planning from the democratic transition to capability-based planning (1977–2005) This article analyses the evolution of Spain’s defence planning between the democratic transition and the institutionalisation of capability-based planning (CBP) in 2005. It argues that, even as Sp...

New article: Between ambition and constraint: Spain’s defence planning from the democratic transition to capability-based planning (1977–2005) by Guillem Colom Piella: www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....

European Security Perks and Perils of Geostrategic In-Betweenness: Theoretical and Empirical Insights from within the EU-Russia (Un)Common Neighbourhood. Volume 34, Issue 4 of European Security

Very excited that our 2025 special issue is now published - Perks and Perils of Geostrategic In-Betweenness: Theoretical and Empirical Insights from within the EU-Russia (Un)Common Neighbourhood with Andriy Tyushka & Tracey German as guest editors: www.tandfonline.com/toc/feus20/3...

Eastern Europe post-February 2022 – embracing geostrategic “in-betweenness” or bracing against it? The SI has sought to cast an “inside-out” perspective on the much-studied competition between the EU and Russia over their shared neighbourhood in the Eastern Europe and Southern Caucasus (EE&SC) r...

34(4) OA Eastern Europe post-February 2022 – embracing geostrategic “in-betweenness” or bracing against it? by Andriy Tyushka & Tracey German:
www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....

Geostrategic “inbetweenness”: navigating Azerbaijan–EU relations amidst geopolitical flux with Russia This paper investigates how key geopolitical junctures the Second Karabakh War and the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine have (re)shaped Azerbaijan's relations with the European Union, particularly ...

34(4) Geostrategic “inbetweenness”: navigating Azerbaijan–EU relations amidst geopolitical flux with Russia by Agha Bayramov and Mustafa Ali Sezal: www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....

Geostrategic “inbetweenness” as a (mis)fortune of Eastern European neighbours of Russia and the European Union Research on the nature, ways and effects of EU-Russia competition in their “common neighbourhood” has proliferated over the past two decades, although little attention has been paid so far to analy...

34(4) Free access Introduction: Geostrategic “inbetweenness” as a (mis)fortune of Eastern European neighbours of Russia and the European Union by Andriy Tyushka & Tracey German: www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....

Read our blog on the European Defence Ecosystem with @exadaktylos.bsky.social @susmonika.bsky.social and Ben Martill. We set out what the European Defence Ecosystem is and some initial thoughts on its applicability to UK-EU defence relations. Looking forward to exploring this further.

Associate Editor needed for European Security

We are looking for an associate editor to join @jocelynmawdsley.bsky.social @laurachappell.bsky.social & @dimitrisbouris.bsky.social in editing European Security. Interested in getting editorial experience? More info here:
think.taylorandfrancis.com/editor_recru... Deadline 31/10/25.

The European Parliament's foreign policy behaviour: the case of EU foreign policy towards Ukraine following the Russian war of aggression This article sheds light on the foreign policy behaviour of the European Parliament, which is traditionally considered to have a “quite limited” role in this policy domain. It aims to fill a theore...

New OA article: The European Parliament's foreign policy behaviour: the case of EU foreign policy towards Ukraine following the Russian war of aggression by Elena Baracani and Michele Danesi: www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....

Happy to report for the journal metrics fans out there that our CiteScore has gone up to 6.1. We are now ranked by Scopus as 45/738 of Politics and IR journals.

Navigating the storm: the impact of the Russia–Ukraine war on EU’s quest for strategic autonomy This article investigates how the Russia–Ukraine war has reshaped the European Union's defence priorities and its pursuit of strategic autonomy. Using advanced text analytics and machine learning m...

New article: Navigating the storm: the impact of the Russia–Ukraine war on EU’s quest for strategic autonomy by Sinem Ünaldilar, Betül Aydoğan Ünal & Senem Kumova Metin www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1...

Don’t count on the U.S.: can Russia achieve a rapid breakthrough in central Europe? The 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine has significantly worsened the European security outlook. Simultaneously, concerns are growing over the United States’ willingness to commit substantial forces ...

New OA article: Don’t count on the U.S.: can Russia achieve a rapid breakthrough in central Europe? by @jankofron.bsky.social & @stauberj.bsky.social www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....

1/ 🧵 Can Europe defend itself if the U.S. steps back?
Our new study asks: Can European NATO members alone stop a Russian breakthrough in Poland? We model two scenarios and here’s what we found 👇

New article: From words to action: climate security mainstreaming in EU foreign policy by Marie Sophie Mayer: www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1...

The effects of the international political field on EU foreign policy: The case of the EU training mission in Mali Analysing the making of the EU's foreign and defence policy generally involves identifying European constraints that reconfigure the calculations, aims and practices of the member states and their ...

New article: The effects of the international political field on EU foreign policy: The case of the EU training mission in Mali by Florent Pouponneau: www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1...

Narratives of military involvement: Spain and Portugal's foreign policy discourses in the Kosovo intervention Theoretical frameworks on strategic narratives and framing illuminate how political actors construct and disseminate narratives to shape public perceptions and legitimize their actions. In the case...

New article: Narratives of military involvement: Spain and Portugal's foreign policy discourses in the Kosovo intervention by Maria do Ceu Pinta Arena www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1...

In a new @europeansecurity.bsky.social article, Nizan Feldman and I examine why #NATO deepens ties with some partners over others. Using new data and elite interviews, we show that #NATO prioritizes partners with advanced military capabilities and modernization potential, viewed as powerful signals

Partnering for success: NATO’s approach to enhancing strategic relations with partner countries This article explores the factors influencing NATO’s level of engagement with partner countries, arguing that the alliance prioritises ties with states that demonstrate increased potential for subs...

New article: Partnering for success: NATO’s approach to enhancing strategic relations with partner countries by @rubinsonir.bsky.social & Nizan Feldman: www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1...

The transnationalisation of military leaders in Central and Eastern Europe and EURO-Atlantic integration The professional transnationalisation of Central and Eastern European (CEE) militaries has been a pivotal factor in their integration into the Euro-Atlantic security community. This article examine...

New OA article: The transnationalisation of military leaders in Central and Eastern Europe and EURO-Atlantic integration by @tomaskucera.bsky.social www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....

Black knight NGOs and international disinformation Movements based on conspiracy theories and a fundamental rejection of liberal values are on the rise in traditionally democratic societies and those with authoritarian legacies. This article develo...

34(3) OA Black knight NGOs and international disinformation by @karinashyrokykh.bsky.social & @martinkragh.bsky.social www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....

European strategic autonomy in the transatlantic security context: American perceptions of European security and defence integration 1998–2022 European strategic autonomy has attracted a great deal of attention in recent years, but the discussion has largely been Euro-centric and overlooked the American perspective. This paper addresses t...

34(3) OA European strategic autonomy in the transatlantic security context: American perceptions of European security and defence integration 1998–2022 by @heljaossa.bsky.social www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....

Mystery in civil–military relations! The unknown “European practice” This article assesses the limitations of European Union (EU) documents regarding the sociological aspects of civil–military relations. Although these documents aim to improve the relationship betwe...

34(3) Mystery in civil–military relations! The unknown “European practice” by Isabella Neumann www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....

European Security Volume 34, Issue 3 of European Security

Issue 34(3) is now published. Interested in Global Britain, counter-terrorism, willingness to fight, transatlantic relations, motivations of foreign fighters, civ-mil or disinformation? Look here: www.tandfonline.com/toc/feus20/3...

Job Vacancy at the University of Surrey: Lecturer/Senior Lecturer in International Relations (Teaching) The University of Surrey is a global community of ideas and people, dedicated to life-changing education and research. We are ambitious and have a bold vision of what we want to achieve - shaping ours...

Come and work with us! This is a permanent IR L&T post:

jobs.surrey.ac.uk/Vacancy.aspx...