Between Multilateralism and Great Power Competition: The Future of European Indivisible and Comprehensive Security

Even before the Russian war against Ukraine, strategists and academics in the West argued and
even pleaded for a return to Great Power Competition. This interest reflected a growing conviction
that the era of internationalist multilateralism was over and that the world is divided in two rival
blocs, i.e., the Europeans and Americans on the one hand, and Russia and China on the other.
In this view, Ukraine is the first battleground between these blocs. However, multilateralism
and multi-polarity are alive and kicking. Not only that, international organisations such as the
UN, NATO, the Council of Europe, the OCSE and CSTO, are indispensable. This is especially so
when relations between member states have become tense. They provide norms, facilitate the
exchange of ideas and as such help diffuse tensions that may have risen among their members.
To substantiate our claim, we will discuss the establishment of the European security architecture
and show how ideas that underlay it, are still meaningful, if only because Russia, especially in
defeat, is still a force to be reckoned with.