The External
‘The External’ by EU-RENEW keeps you up to date on the latest scholarship on Europe in the World. EU-RENEW is a Jean Monnet Policy Debate project funded by the European Union’s Erasmus Programme.
- Update frequency
- every 29 days
- Average duration
- 23 minutes
- Episodes
- 22
- Years Active
- 2023 - 2025
How the law is used to silence Human Rights Defenders
Research from Dr Aikaterini-Christina Koula at Manchester Metropolitan University reveals how legal systems are increasingly being weaponized to silence human rights defenders, particularly in Europe…
The Geopolitics and Political Economy of the EU–Mercosur FTA Negotiations
In Episode 23, we are joined by Dr. Nicolás Pose-Ferraro (University of the Republic of Uruguay) to discuss his 2025 article in the Journal of Common Market Studies, ‘Between Geopolitics and Politic…
International Attention and the Protection of Human Rights Defenders
In ‘International Attention and the Protection of Human Rights Defenders: Campaigning for Agents of Change’ (Routledge 2023), Dr. Janika Spannagel (Freie Universitat Berlin) seeks to address the que…
Political culture and Europeanization: How informal rules shape formal political processes
In his new book Europeanization and Informal Networks in Southeastern Europe (2025, Routledge), Alexander Mesarovich (European University Institute) considers the impact of political culture, inclu…
An illiberal power? The European Union at its borders
The EU has been widely criticized for its approach to migration. It has been accused of being cynical, negligent and even ‘illiberal’. But are these allegations correct?
In episode 20, Michela Ceccor…
How Latin America’s Groundbreaking Treaty Intersects with European Economic Law
Research by Claudia Ituarte-Lima and Radu Mares at Lund University examines how a pioneering environmental agreement in Latin America and the Caribbean introduces new ways of protecting nature and hu…
How citizens’ identities shape their support for international organizations
What effect does the institutional design of international organizations have on their domestic support? In their recent article, Bernd Schlipphak, Constantin Schäfer & Oliver Treib focus on interact…
What is the contribution of Voluntary Sustainability Standards to Global Sustainability Governance?
Episode 17
Voluntary Sustainability Standards have emerged as influential tools to promote sustainable practices in global value chains and are becoming increasingly relevant in the context of new le…
How President von der Leyen Shaped the EU’s Response to Russia’s Invasion of Ukraine
Can leadership within the European Commission shape the EU's response to global crises?
In Episode 16, The External explores the decisive leadership of Ursula von der Leyen, President of the Europe…
Marine Bardou | Quiet Early Bird or Loud Late Riser? Understanding the European Parliament’s Involvement in International Agreements
The European Parliament has the ability to play a key role in shaping the European Union's international agreements. But how exactly does it get involved in these complex negotiations? Researcher Mar…
The Politics of Chinese Investments in Europe and the Liberal International Order
Is Europe effectively leveraging Chinese investments to enhance its strategic interests within the liberal international order?
In Episode 14, The External discusses the political intricacies of Ch…
Trade Policy in the EU: Market Focus or Geopolitical Tool?
Is EU trade policy primarily a market tool or a geopolitical instrument?
In Episode 13, we delve into the complex interplay between market objectives and geopolitical strategies in EU trade policy, g…
South to north investment linkages and decent work in Brazil
Is there a ‘Brussels effect’ through international investment dynamics? In Episode 12, The External provides insights from a recent article in Labour - Review of Labour Economics and Industrial Relat…
Identity Politics, European Integration and the War in Ukraine
Are identity politics preventing the upgrading of supranational institutions as part of the EU’s response to the War in Ukraine? In Episode 11, The External provides an overview of a recent article …
Advocacy and Change in International Organizations
International organizations change over time, expanding into new areas and abandoning original programmes of work. But are these changes always at the behest of member states?
In Episode 10, The Ext…
The Rise of Foreign Direct Investment Screening in the European Union
In a changing geopolitical landscape, the EU and its member states have introduced novel mechanisms for screening foreign direct investment for national security risks.
In Episode 9, The External pr…
The EU and the Governance of Contested Global Spaces
The high seas, the polar regions, the atmosphere, outer space, and cyberspace... these areas beyond national jurisdiction have become increasingly contested, especially in an era of rising geopolitic…
Macroeconomic Responses to Global Health Crises
While the COVID-19 crisis had an economic impact worldwide, different states and regions responded with different macroeconomic policies and with very different results.
In Episode 7, The External is…
How Multinational Corporations Contribute to Regional Integration Across Africa
What role do multinational corporations play in African regional political and economic intregration?
In Episode 6, the External provides an overview of the recent article by Dr Mpumelelo Mkhabela an…
Factional politics behind the UK's evolving foreign policy
Can changes to British foreign policy be understood as an outcome of factional politics that divided the Conservative Party during the Brexit negotiations? In Episode 5, the External is joined by B…