Europe in the U.S.-Russian Security Dilemma: Is There a Way Out?

Abstract

AbstractOne implication of Europe’s security being coupled to that of the United States is Europe’s being part of the U.S.-Russian security dilemma, a notion at the heart of defensive realism. This has considerable implications for European security. Against the backdrop of current policy debates, this explorative essay seeks to analyze Europe’s policy options in this context. It concludes that Europe has no way to escape the U.S.-Russian security dilemma. This, however, does not leave Europeans without avenues for action in order to contribute to better management of that security dilemma. The chapter intends to bridge a gap between empirical debates on the future of the European security order and more theoretical takes on the emergence of a multipolar world and Europe’s role in it.