Ukraine and the Persistence of the West in World Politics: The EU Dimension

Abstract

The Institute hosted a public lecture by Professor Spyros Economides (London School of Economics) entitled Ukraine and the Persistence of the West in World Politics: The EU Dimension. Professor Economides visited the Institute as part of the Visiting Lecturer’s programme for 2024/25.

Prof Economides discussed the West's persistence in world politics, challenging the prevailing narrative of its decline. His talk focused on two key questions: how the relationship between ideational and material factors helps define the West, particularly in the context of the transatlantic partnership, and to what extent the West is an active agent of change or a reactive actor shaped by structural changes in the international system. The lecturer argued that the West's response to the war in Ukraine demonstrates its continued relevance and ability to act in concert, despite internal challenges such as illiberal democracy and populism.

In the second part of his lecture, Prof Economides focused on the European Union's role in shaping the concept of the West, particularly through its foreign and security policy, and highlighted the EU's approach of "principled pragmatism," as outlined in its 2016 Security Strategy, which attempts to bridge the gap between values and interests. The discussion emphasized the need to understand the EU's actions in the context of Ukraine as a defence of its fundamental values and strategic interests, illustrating the complex interplay between ideational and material factors in European foreign policy.