Designing, Mapping, and Reshaping Borders: European Neighbourhood Policy and Central Asia

This chapter critically examines the contradictions inherent in the European Union’s (EU) external governance, focusing on Central Asian (CA) countries through an immanent critique. Bridging border studies, identity, critical security studies, and geopolitics, a conceptual framework is established to elucidate the disjunction between normative EU policies and immediate geopolitical realities. The analysis centers on the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) and EU relations with CA nations, conducting a comparative study to unravel underlying complexities. The EU’s pivotal decision to grant candidate status to Ukraine and Moldova invites debate on potential EU membership for all partners and puts Europe’s borders into question. This also highlights the tension between professed values and geopolitical concerns, complicating distinctions between “self” and “other.” For example, The New Strategy for Central Asia illustrates the potential expansion of the EU’s neighborhood. This nuanced understanding of the EU’s complex relationship with its neighborhoods sheds light on contradictory policies, reflecting the interplay of values and strategic interests. It contributes to discussions on Europe’s evolving external governance and security arrangements, particularly in a changing geopolitical landscape. The chapter concludes by emphasizing the importance of this framework for future research, offering a comprehensive lens to unravel the intricate mechanisms and dynamics of Europe’s external relations.