Introduction to 2018 special issue of European Security: “ontological (in)security in the European Union”

TY - JOUR

T1 - Introduction to 2018 special issue of European Security

T2 - “ontological (in)security in the European Union”

AU - Kinnvall, Catarina

AU - Manners, Ian James

AU - Mitzen, Jennifer

PY - 2018/8/13

Y1 - 2018/8/13

N2 - The European Union (EU) faces many crises and risks to its security and existence. While few of them threaten the lives of EU citizens, they all create a sense of anxiety and insecurity about the future for many ordinary Europeans. Amongst these crises are the more obvious challenges of sovereign debt and fiscal austerity; refugees from conflicts in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Syria; and the rise of populist far-right parties across Europe. But behind these challenges lie less visible insecurities about economic prospects, social wellbeing, and a widespread expectation that the EU is unable to answer the challenges of twenty-first century global politics. In other words, the greatest security challenge facing people across Europe is not physical, despite the threats of Putin and ISIS, but is a sense of fear and anxiety over their daily lives.

AB - The European Union (EU) faces many crises and risks to its security and existence. While few of them threaten the lives of EU citizens, they all create a sense of anxiety and insecurity about the future for many ordinary Europeans. Amongst these crises are the more obvious challenges of sovereign debt and fiscal austerity; refugees from conflicts in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Syria; and the rise of populist far-right parties across Europe. But behind these challenges lie less visible insecurities about economic prospects, social wellbeing, and a widespread expectation that the EU is unable to answer the challenges of twenty-first century global politics. In other words, the greatest security challenge facing people across Europe is not physical, despite the threats of Putin and ISIS, but is a sense of fear and anxiety over their daily lives.

KW - Faculty of Social Sciences

KW - Ontological Security

KW - European Union

KW - EUropean integration

KW - fear

KW - anxiety

U2 - 10.1080/09662839.2018.1497977

DO - 10.1080/09662839.2018.1497977

M3 - Journal article

SN - 0966-2839

VL - 27

SP - 249

EP - 265

JO - European Security

JF - European Security

IS - 3

M1 - 1

ER -