Annotations
| Nr. | Topic | Annotations |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | New constellations of EU defense | This dissertation will study the ongoing re-institutionalization of EU defense in light of evolving geopolitical challenges facing Europe. To analyze the formation of new EU defense governance, the dissertation can build on an analytical framework structured around three ideal-typical scenarios of structurally distinct conditions: defense autonomy, defense heteronomy and defense fragmentation. The concept of EU defense autonomy builds on the notion of self-sufficiency and self-reliance in the provision of defense. By contrast, EU defense heteronomy refers to a system of multiple and loosely coupled actors operating across member states as well as beyond the EU. Lastly, EU defense fragmentation describes a scenario in which defense provision remains primarily the responsibility of individual member states and/or regional groupings of member states, with limited coordination and integration on the EU level. When it comes to methodology, the dissertation can design its own approach that fits its analytical aims. |
| 2. | The relationship between politics and constitutional adjudication | The dissertation will examine the relationship between politics and constitutional adjudication. It will contribute to understanding how various conceptions of politics and related political concepts—such as constitutionalism, freedom, democracy, justice or the rule of law—shape selected aspects of constitutional adjudication, such as the set-up and composition of constitutional courts, their decision making and internal operations, extrajudicial engagement, relationship with other political actors or their impact on the political regime. The dissertation should be sensitive to the role court insiders—such as judges, advisors, elite litigants or scholars with privileged access—play in shaping the conceptions of politics in and beyond the decision making. Welcomed is a comparative (within- or between-case, diachronous or synchronous) research design containing an empirical component that combines research methods to advance the understanding of the role of constitutional adjudication in political regimes amidst contemporary 21st-century developments. |
| 3. | Energy security and climate policy of the EU after Russian invasion of Ukraine | The European Union (EU) relied on Russian energy supplies for several decades. However, after the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the EU managed to quickly reduce imports of Russian fossil fuels, and there are currently plans for a complete ban on imports in the coming years. The EU made this step possible through a combination of reduced energy consumption, increased domestic production from renewable sources, and the identification of alternative suppliers. This creates an entirely new situation for both the EU’s energy and climate policies. The aim of the dissertation is to examine these processes within the EU and to analyze the dynamics of relationships between EU institutions and the member states, as well as among the individual member states in this area. Using qualitative methods and empirical research based on primary documents and interviews with actors, the dissertation seeks to determine whether there has been a shift in the perception of energy security and climate policy as opposing tendencies, or whether convergence has occurred. |
| 4. | Double just transition: Green meets digital at the regional level | The thesis aims to understand how collaborative and participatory governance can significantly contribute to the achievement of the just twin (green and digital) transition within EU regions. It places a central focus on the dynamics of regional governance, with a specific emphasis on engaging civil society actors. In the thesis, three key components will be examined: |