Hold the line: European adaptation(s) in a competitive conflict management and resolution market

Conflict management and resolution (CM-R) has evolved significantly with the growing influence of authoritarian actors. While the existing literature highlights how alternative actors contest the liberal peace order, this study examines how the European Union (EU) responds to challenges posed by illiberal CM-R approaches. The article examines the EU’s adaptation strategies in three cases with varying degrees of competition with a key non-Western actor, the Russian Federation: Mali (high), the CAR (medium) and Mozambique (low). Drawing on primary and secondary sources, including interviews with EU officials, it identifies three distinct approaches shaped by the interplay of geopolitical, identity and pragmatic goals. In Mali, the EU adopted a resistance strategy that prioritised the identity goal, emphasising human rights and democracy while pragmatically leveraging development and humanitarian aid to retain minimal influence. In the CAR, the adjustment approach reflected stronger pragmatism, as the EU compromised its normative commitments to align with rival offers. In Mozambique, the evolution approach balanced geopolitical, identity and pragmatic goals, consolidating influence through security-driven interventions and long-term peacebuilding. The article contributes to understanding how international competition shapes CM-R strategies and offers insights into the future of the field amid political fragmentation.