Strategies for Legitimation Re-Assessed: Europe in Search of Legitimacy in the New Multipolar World Order

As the global order shifts from unipolarity to multipolarity, Europe faces unprecedented challenges to its legitimacy, both internally and externally. The European Union’s recent embrace of the narrative ‘A Europe that Protects’ signals a strategic pivot: from a focus on economic integration and regulatory power to an emphasis on security, resilience, and the provision of public goods. This paper reassesses Europe’s strategies for legitimation in this new context, drawing on the foundational work of Erik Oddvar Eriksen and John Erik Fossum. Eriksen’s deliberative democratic theory and Fossum’s constitutional pluralism provide critical lenses to evaluate whether and how this narrative can foster a more legitimate and cohesive European polity. The paper argues that ‘A Europe that Protects’ reflects a dual legitimation strategy. On the one hand, it responds to external pressures—such as geopolitical rivalry, migration, and climate change—by positioning the EU as a protective shield for its citizens. On the other, it seeks to address internal legitimacy deficits by recasting the EU’s role as a provider of security and welfare, rather than merely a market regulator. However, this shift raises fundamental questions: Does the protective turn risk undermining the EU’s deliberative and pluralist foundations? Can a security-focused narrative coexist with the EU’s commitment to constitutional democracy and the rule of law? By analyzing recent policy developments and public discourse, the paper assesses the implications of this narrative for European identity, democratic accountability, and the balance between unity and diversity.