Journal Articles by David Cadier
Foreign Policy Analysis, 2024
This article argues that populism in power translates into a greater tendency to politicize forei... more This article argues that populism in power translates into a greater tendency to politicize foreign policy, in the sense of defining and articulating foreign policy preferences in opposition to political predecessors, using foreign policy as an instrument and ground to battle political opponents, and over-prioritizing domestic incentives and considerations over external ones. Paradoxically, compared to other classical determinants of foreign policy, how populism relates to domestic political competition has received scant attention. Yet, populist actors' strategies in dealing with political opposition are at the same time distinctive and consequential. This article advances a typological theoretical framework shedding light on the pathways, patterns, and implications of populist politicization, which it illustrates empirically with reference to the case of Poland.
International Studies Review, 2023
In recent years, there has been a growing interest in the international dimensions of populism, b... more In recent years, there has been a growing interest in the international dimensions of populism, by now a major political phenomenon around the world. This interest, however, has been confined largely to the state level, especially the influence of populism on foreign policy. In this Forum, we argue that it is important for analysis to move beyond the state level and view populism as a concept and phenomenon of international relations (IR) rather than simply a factor of foreign policy. The Forum discusses implications of the rise of populism for IR theory, the role of international systemic change in the emergence of populism in national arenas, and the ways that regime type, state structure and institutions, ideational content, and the political strategies of populists condition the impact of populism on world politics. In this way, the Forum identifies specific directions for the study of populism in IR that scholars can follow in the future.
Comparative European Politics, 2021
Introduction of the Special Issue 'Tracing the Impact of Populism on European Foreign Policy'
Comparative European Politics, 2021
This article characterizes and analyses variations in Poland's foreign policy under the Law and J... more This article characterizes and analyses variations in Poland's foreign policy under the Law and Justice (PiS) government with a view to shed light on the distinctive influence of populism. I argue that this influence has mainly to do with the 'politics of representation', understood both in the sense of meaning production and of theatrical performance. Building on the discursive and stylistic approaches to populism as well as on the post-structuralist literature in Foreign Policy Analysis, this article conceptualizes populism as a set of representational practices in domestic politics that spill over, and affect, foreign policy. By promoting distinct representations of Self and Other in international affairs and by investing foreign policy making as a site to perform a rupture with technocratic elites, populist practices contribute to enable or constrain certain policy choices and mode of diplomatic actions. In Poland, this has translated into a securitization of the EU, a partial de-Europeanization of the national interest and a re-shuffling of partnership prioritizations, as well as in disruptive and 'undiplomatic' comments on the part of the PiS foreign policy executive.
International Politics, 2020
This article analyses how, in Poland, the populist political orientation of the ruling party (Law... more This article analyses how, in Poland, the populist political orientation of the ruling party (Law and Justice—PiS) has coloured the historical discourse of the government and has affected, in turn, its foreign policy and diplomatic relations. We argue that the historical discourse of the PiS government is a reflection of the party’s reliance on populism as a political mode of articulation in that it seeks to promote a Manichean, dichotomic and totalizing re-definition of the categories of victim, hero and perpetrator—and of Poland’s roles in this trinity. The article details the direct and indirect repercussions of PiS populist-inspired historical posture on Poland’s foreign policy by analysing its policies towards—and relations with—Ukraine and Germany. As such, the article sheds light on the under-explored links between populism and historical memory and makes a contribution to the nascent scholarship on the foreign policy of populist governments.
Geopolitics, 2019
Since the outbreak of the Ukraine crisis in 2014, the idea that the EU and Russia are engaged in ... more Since the outbreak of the Ukraine crisis in 2014, the idea that the EU and Russia are engaged in a geopolitical contest over their common neighbourhood and that the Eastern Partnership (EaP) is Brussels’ instrument in this context appears ‘common sense’. Yet, the reality of the EaP as a policy pro- gramme hardly corresponds to such representation, whether in its original purpose, actual content or effects on the ground. To unpack this discrepancy, this article presents a genealogy of what is conceptualised here as the geopoliticisation of the EaP, a notion set forth to designate the discursive construction of an issue as a geopolitical problem. While Russia’s actions in Ukraine certainly contributed to deepen and reinforce this dynamic, the article shows that the geopoliticisation of the EaP was neither merely exogenous nor simply reactive. It was also carried forward from within the European policy commu- nity by a discourse coalition which, based on its own political subjectivities and policy agenda, came to frame the EaP as an endeavour aimed at ‘winning over’ countries of the Eastern neighbourhood and ‘rolling back’ Russia’s influence.
International Affairs, 2018
European Union member states have been notoriously divided in their attitudes towards Russia. The... more European Union member states have been notoriously divided in their attitudes towards Russia. These national positions have, however, too often been essentialized, thereby obfuscating nuances and foregoing the possibility to discern or explain change. Considering its strong political and economic links with Russia, its past positions and the fact that Ukraine had never registered prominently on its foreign policy radar, France's reaction to the Ukraine crisis has been firmer and more active than most could have forecast. This article examines the content, determinants and evolutions of France's policies towards Russia before, during and beyond the crisis. Contrary to traditional explanations, which tend to emphasize historic, cultural, economic or domestic political factors, I argue that these policies have been mainly—and continuously—driven by France's broader milieu goals in international and European politics. These considerations help to account for the policy shift revealed during the Ukraine crisis. Following the emergence of Russia as a central actor in Syria and the correlated politicization of the Russia question in the 2017 French presidential election, the Macron administration has adopted a new diplomatic approach towards Moscow. Yet a different policy direction has not emerged, as the administration has not fundamentally put into question the previously established assessment of how Russia's current foreign policy collides with France's milieu goals.
The International Spectator, 2017
Studies on foreign policy think tanks have too often remained disconnected from the analysis of f... more Studies on foreign policy think tanks have too often remained disconnected from the analysis of foreign policy outcomes. Yet, investigating the development, functions and influence of think tanks can provide valuable insights into the context in which foreign policy is formulated. The Czech Republic and Poland represent interesting comparative cases in this regard: while Polish think tanks are more numerous and tend to be better placed in international rankings, they are less involved in the policymaking process than their Czech counterparts. This contrast has mainly to do with the sociology of foreign policy elites and the role of political parties in both countries.
Global Policy, 2014
This article examines the nature and implications of the emerging EU–Russia competition in their ... more This article examines the nature and implications of the emerging EU–Russia competition in their common neighbourhood. After analysing the two economic integration platforms that the EU and Russia are respectively promoting in the postsoviet space, the Eastern Partnership (EaP) and the Eurasian Economic Union, the discussion focuses on the case study of Ukraine. It is argued that depicting this emerging regional configuration as a geopolitical contest between two cohesive blocs was not fully corresponding to the reality on the ground but that it largely turned into a self-fulfilling prophecy in the case of Ukraine.
Books and Book Chapters by David Cadier
Russia and the Future of Europe: Views from the Capitals, 2022
Emmanuel Macron’s initiative for a renewed political dialogue with Moscow has raised eyebrows, if... more Emmanuel Macron’s initiative for a renewed political dialogue with Moscow has raised eyebrows, if not alarms or outright criticisms, in a number of European quarters. As such, it invites some reflection on its rationale and determinants as well as, more generally, on the drivers of France’s policies towards Russia.
Russia's Foreign Policy: Ideas, Domestic Politics and External Relations (Palgrave), 2015
The main findings that emerge from this collective analytical endeavour are that the chief driver... more The main findings that emerge from this collective analytical endeavour are that the chief drivers of Russia’s contemporary foreign policy behaviour are objectives and imperatives linked to domestic regime consolidation.
Russia's Foreign Policy: Ideas, Domestic Politics and External Relations (Palgrave), 2015
The post-Soviet space has been both a crucial ground for Russia’s foreign policy and a good therm... more The post-Soviet space has been both a crucial ground for Russia’s foreign policy and a good thermometer of its main orientations. Moscow’s much-commented-on ‘new assertiveness’ in international affairs from the second half of the 2000s was, for instance, both prompted by devel- opments within the region (e.g., colour revolutions in Georgia and Ukraine) and translated into actions towards it (e.g., Russo-Georgian conflict of 2008). More recently, the post-Soviet space has been the area where Russia is deploying its most ambitious diplomatic initiative of the last two decades, the Eurasian Economic Union. Finally, the crisis in Ukraine in 2014 stands out as the most acute stand-off between Moscow and the West since the end of the Cold War and as an event likely to mark a crucial juncture in Russia’s foreign policy.
Rather than dwelling on the details of this crisis, this chapter purports to shed light on the context that led to it by analysing the main drivers and key components of Russia’s policies in the post-Soviet space.
Europe and America: The End of Transatlantic Relations? (Brookings University Press, edited by F. Bindi), 2019
What drives Czech for eign policy and what prompted the changes noted above in particular? Are t... more What drives Czech for eign policy and what prompted the changes noted above in particular? Are these changes the mark of a profound change of direction in Czech foreign policy or simply punctual contradictions resulting from domestic politics spilling over into foreign policy? What are Prague’s diplomatic priorities and foreign policy preferences at the EU level? How is the Czech Republic likely to position itself in the changing international and European con texts? This chapter purports to shed some light on these questions by con trasting Czech foreign policy then and now. It begins by presenting the his torical background, domestic sources, and past traditions in this policy. It then focuses in turn on three issue areas of key importance for Prague in EU foreign policy—namely, relations with the United States, relations with Russia, and policies toward the Eastern neighborhood—and traces the evo lution of Czech positions on these dossiers. The conclusion summarizes the findings and discusses the likely future direction of Czech foreign policy.
"America First" is "America Alone"
Foreign policy is like physics: vacuums quickly fill. As the ... more "America First" is "America Alone"
Foreign policy is like physics: vacuums quickly fill. As the United States retreats from the international order it helped put in place and maintain since the end of World War II, Russia is rapidly filling the vacuum. Federiga Bindi's new book assesses the consequences of this retreat for transatlantic relations and Europe, showing how the current path of US foreign policy is leading to isolation and a sharp decrease of US influence in international relations.
Transatlantic relations reached a peak under President Barack Obama. But under the Trump administration, withdrawal from the global stage has caused irreparable damage to the transatlantic partnership and has propelled Europeans to act more independently. Europe and America explores this tumultuous path by examining the foreign policy of the United States, Russia, and the major European Union member states. The book highlights the consequences of US retreat for transatlantic relations and Europe, demonstrating that "America first" is becoming "America alone," perhaps marking the end of transatlantic relations as we know it, with Europe no longer beholden to the US national interest.
Policy Papers by David Cadier
EULISTCO Policy Paper 8, 2020
The rise of populism in the European Union represents a key internal political development that ... more The rise of populism in the European Union represents a key internal political development that is likely to have repercussions on its foreign policy. It is traditionally assumed that, when in the opposition, populist parties affect foreign policy debates though not foreign policy outcomes. But when they are elected into office, as happened in several EU member states, how do they shape policy decisions and processes in EU foreign policy? This policy paper argues that although populist actors can be vocal and conspicuous in aligning with external actors contesting the international liberal order, they rarely go as far as swaying or blocking EU foreign policy decisions and outputs. At the same time, however, populist governments’ domestic illiberal policies have the potential to undermine the EU’s legitimacy, structural power, and resilience-building endeavours.
IEMed Mediterranean Yearbook, 2019
The EU’s capacity to face off these mounting exter-nal challenges, resist geopolitical pressures ... more The EU’s capacity to face off these mounting exter-nal challenges, resist geopolitical pressures and fos-ter peace and security in its neighbourhood will, in-deed, largely be mediated by its internal cohesion and resilience. Several recent internal developments are undermining both these aspects. In addition to potentially depriving the bloc of some of the UK’s strategic assets, Brexit is reverting the basis of what had been the vector of the EU’s transformative pow-er, namely enlargement or enlargement-lite. The ref-ugee crisis showcased and deepened Europe’s in-ternal divisions and some of the policy responses (or lack thereof) cast a shadow on its soft power. The rise of populist political forces, who have made it to power in several EU Member States, has led to an over-prioritization of domestic politics over European compromise-building, as well as, in some instants, an erosion of the very rule of law norms and stand-ards that the EU purports to promote abroad. All of these internal developments tend to put pressure on what had been the EU’s core, structural power strat-egy in external relations.
Foreign Affairs, 2017
The United States is not the only Western country in which Russia is featuring prominently in ele... more The United States is not the only Western country in which Russia is featuring prominently in electoral politics. For the first time since the end of the Cold War, Russia is also a hot topic in the French presidential campaign. In the lead up to the election in spring 2017, nearly all of the opposition parties— whether on the right, far right, or far left—have bemoaned the degradation of ties with Russia under the government of President François Hollande, arguing that it breaks with France’s tradition of diplomatic engagement and political dialogue with Moscow and that it is detrimental to French economic interests.
FIIA Briefing Paper 195, 2016
France’s reaction to the Ukraine crisis attests to the growing Europeanisation of its policies to... more France’s reaction to the Ukraine crisis attests to the growing Europeanisation of its policies towards Russia. This trend has been exacerbated and accelerated by the magnitude of Russia’s actions in Ukraine, but was also sustained beforehand by a conjunction of factors, including: disillusionment over the potential benefits of the bilateral political relationship with Moscow, particularly in comparison to the cardinal importance of the EU context for French interests; the assessment made by French diplomatic and strategic elites of the drivers and direction of Russia’s foreign policy; and the societal context in which France’s policies towards Russia are formulated.
LSE IDEAS Special Report, 2013
The European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) has its roots in the successes and consequences of enlarg... more The European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) has its roots in the successes and consequences of enlargement but it developed in a context where membership seemed less and less available for countries of the periphery. One might therefore ask whether the ENP has been a substitute for enlargement. Reviewing the origins, content, achievements and evolutions of the policy, this contribution argues that whilst the ENP was not necessarily designed as an alternative for accession it certainly constituted an attempt to replicate the kind of transformative power generated in the framework of enlargement policy; an attempt that was ultimately without success. The ENP should instead move away from the ghost of enlargement and be constituted as more coherent and more assertive foreign policy instrument.
Uploads
Journal Articles by David Cadier
Books and Book Chapters by David Cadier
Rather than dwelling on the details of this crisis, this chapter purports to shed light on the context that led to it by analysing the main drivers and key components of Russia’s policies in the post-Soviet space.
Foreign policy is like physics: vacuums quickly fill. As the United States retreats from the international order it helped put in place and maintain since the end of World War II, Russia is rapidly filling the vacuum. Federiga Bindi's new book assesses the consequences of this retreat for transatlantic relations and Europe, showing how the current path of US foreign policy is leading to isolation and a sharp decrease of US influence in international relations.
Transatlantic relations reached a peak under President Barack Obama. But under the Trump administration, withdrawal from the global stage has caused irreparable damage to the transatlantic partnership and has propelled Europeans to act more independently. Europe and America explores this tumultuous path by examining the foreign policy of the United States, Russia, and the major European Union member states. The book highlights the consequences of US retreat for transatlantic relations and Europe, demonstrating that "America first" is becoming "America alone," perhaps marking the end of transatlantic relations as we know it, with Europe no longer beholden to the US national interest.
Policy Papers by David Cadier
Rather than dwelling on the details of this crisis, this chapter purports to shed light on the context that led to it by analysing the main drivers and key components of Russia’s policies in the post-Soviet space.
Foreign policy is like physics: vacuums quickly fill. As the United States retreats from the international order it helped put in place and maintain since the end of World War II, Russia is rapidly filling the vacuum. Federiga Bindi's new book assesses the consequences of this retreat for transatlantic relations and Europe, showing how the current path of US foreign policy is leading to isolation and a sharp decrease of US influence in international relations.
Transatlantic relations reached a peak under President Barack Obama. But under the Trump administration, withdrawal from the global stage has caused irreparable damage to the transatlantic partnership and has propelled Europeans to act more independently. Europe and America explores this tumultuous path by examining the foreign policy of the United States, Russia, and the major European Union member states. The book highlights the consequences of US retreat for transatlantic relations and Europe, demonstrating that "America first" is becoming "America alone," perhaps marking the end of transatlantic relations as we know it, with Europe no longer beholden to the US national interest.