SNES Spring Conference 2026
The Swedish Network for European Studies' (SNES) spring conference was held at Linköping University's Campus Norrköping, 19–20 March 2026.
European and Global Cooperation in Turbulent Times
The European Union is challenged by recent global events. Putin’s invasion of Ukraine is only one of many actions by authoritarian regimes which demand coordinated responses by the European governments. Under president Trump even the United States has become a source of instability. The rule-based world order is under heavy strain and so are established models of trade, migration, security arrangements and so on. The challenges call for revised strategies and coherent action, including the possibility of the EU taking a global leadership role.
The broad portfolio of foreign policies of the EU has been under reconstruction since the Lisbon Treaty. One such element is the ambition to form a partnership with the African Union. In today’s turbulent times the partnership with Africa may be the most stable and promising for the EU. At the same time, Africa is an arena where the global battle for influence is taking place. The recent trade agreement with Latin America (Mercosur) indicates a similar desire by the EU to form new alliances and economic partnerships.
The global events put strain on European cooperation while it creates a need for action. An optimist may think that this provides opportunities for further integration of the EU, perhaps in partly new ways, while pessimists see limitations. For example, the trade agreement with Mercosur was made in spite of heavy French resistance. Countries like Sweden may need to search for new alliances. This means that traditional views and theories of European integration may need to be revised.
The aim of the conference is to explore the challenges and possible ways forward. We welcome papers on the external and internal challenges of the Union as well as other topics broadly related to European politics and the European Union. The deadline for submission and for registration is Friday, February 20th.
The keynote address will be presented by Professor Adekeye Adebajo of the University of Pretoria, South Africa.
Please see the conference website for more information and registration: https://liu.se/en/event/snes-spring-conference-2026.