Research from Dr Aikaterini-Christina Koula at Manchester Metropolitan University reveals how legal systems are increasingly being weaponized to silence human rights defenders, particularly in Europe. Her work introduces a taxonomy of violations perpetrated through the legal system and demonstrates how these tactics deviate from human rights standards, offering valuable insights for academics, practitioners, and defenders alike.Episode 24 of the External presents a concise summary of her paper (2024) 'Human Rights Violations Committed Against Human Rights Defenders Through the Use of Legal System: A Trend in Europe and Beyond’ in Human Rights Review.

In Episode 23, we are joined by Dr. Nicolás Pose-Ferraro ⁠(University of the Republic of Uruguay) to discuss his 2025 article in the Journal of Common Market Studies, ‘Between Geopolitics and Political Economy: The European Union–Mercosur Negotiation to Form a Trade Agreement’, which explores the reasons behind the latest push to conclude the EU-Mercosur agreement and what threatens its completion.

In ‘International Attention and the Protection of Human Rights Defenders: Campaigning for Agents of Change’ (Routledge 2023), Dr. Janika Spannagel ⁠(Freie Universitat Berlin) seeks to address the question of whether and how international attention can protect and enable domestic human rights activists in authoritarian settings.In episode 22, Janika Spannagel joins the External to discuss the key insights from the book.

⁠In his new book Europeanization and Informal Networks in Southeastern Europe (2025, Routledge), Alexander Mesarovich ⁠(European University Institute) considers the impact of political culture, including informal rules which regulate political behaviour, on formal political processes. Exploring the EU accession processes of Slovenia, Croatia, and Serbia, Mesarovich identifies how the working and social culture of political elites enabled and/or constrained the ability of the respective legislatures to pass the reforms necessary to become members of the EU.

In episode 21, Alexander Mesarovich joins the External to discuss the key insights from his research.

The EU has been widely criticized for its approach to migration. It has been accused of being cynical, negligent and even ‘illiberal’. But are these allegations correct?

In episode 20, Michela Ceccorulli and Sonia Lucarelli join the External to discuss the key findings of their recent paper (co-authored with Enrico Fassi) "An illiberal power? EU bordering practices and the liberal international order", in International Affairs.

Research by Claudia Ituarte-Lima and Radu Mares at Lund University examines how a pioneering environmental agreement in Latin America and the Caribbean introduces new ways of protecting nature and human rights. Their study reveals both opportunities and challenges in how this regional treaty interacts with European Union trade laws, offering insights into how different regions can work together to protect the environment and strengthen democracy.

This podcast summarizes the key findings of the article

Research for this paper was funded by the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency as part of the Biodiversa+ and Water JPI project Protecting Biodiversity through Regulating Trade and Business Relations.

What effect does the institutional design of international organizations have on their domestic support? In their recent article, Bernd Schlipphak, Constantin Schäfer & Oliver Treib focus on interactions between citizens’ social identity and institutional characteristics that may have the potential to polarize citizens’ attitudes owardnational organizations. This podcast summarizes the key insights of the article - happy listening!

Read the article (open access): Bernd Schlipphak, Constantin Schäfer & Oliver Treib (2024) ‘Cosmopolitan identity, authority, and domestic support of international organizations’ The Review of International Organizations 

Episode 17

Voluntary Sustainability Standards have emerged as influential tools to promote sustainable practices in global value chains and are becoming increasingly relevant in the context of new legislation by the European Union and other governments for the promotion of sustainable development. A comprehensive review led by Axel Marx at KU Leuven examines the evolution, impacts, and

Read the article (open access):  Marx, A., Depoorter, C., Fernandez de Cordoba, S., Verma, R., Auld, G., Bemelmans, J., Bennett, E., Boonaert, E., Brandi, C.,

Read the article:

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/1758-5899.13401

Can leadership within the European Commission shape the EU's response to global crises?

In Episode 16, The External explores the decisive leadership of Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, during the first ten weeks of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. It features the insights from the research of Professor Elena Baracani (University of Bologna) on how von der Leyen's strategic framing and principled ideas shaped the European Union's unified and swift response to the crisis, helping to position the EU as a more assertive global actor.

Read the article (open access): Elena

Summary

The European Parliament has the ability to play a key role in shaping the European Union's international agreements. But how exactly does it get involved in these complex negotiations? Researcher Marine Bardou from the University of Louvain has conducted a comprehensive study to answer this question, revealing surprising patterns in the Parliament's activities.